1  Whoever observes the law multiplies oblations.

Sir35:Sir32:1  He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.

2  It is a salutary sacrifice to attend to the commandments and to withdraw from all iniquity.

3  And to depart from injustice is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices and a supplication for sins.

4  Whoever gives thanks, offers a gift of fine flour, and whoever acts with mercy, offers a sacrifice.

Sir35:Sir32:2  He that requiteth a good turn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise.

5  To withdraw from iniquity is well-pleasing to the Lord. And to withdraw from injustice is a supplication for sins.

Sir35:Sir32:3  To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.

6  You should not appear empty before the sight of the Lord.

Sir35:Sir32:4  Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.

7  For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God.

8  The oblation of the just fattens the altar, and is a fragrance of sweetness in the sight of the Most High.

Sir35:Sir32:6  The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.

9  The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will never forget the memorial of it.

10  Render glory to God with a good heart. And you should not reduce the first-fruits of your hands.

Sir35:Sir32:8  Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.

11  With every gift, have a cheerful countenance, and sanctify your tithes with exultation.

Sir35:Sir32:9  In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness.

12  Give to the Most High according to his gifts to you, and act with a good eye toward the creations of your hands.

Sir35:Sir32:10  Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.

13  For the Lord gives recompense, and he will repay you seven times as much.

Sir35:Sir32:11  For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.

14  Do not be willing to offer corrupt gifts. For he will not accept them.

Sir35:Sir32:12  Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons.

15  And do not be willing to consider an unjust sacrifice. For the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no favoritism toward anyone.

16  The Lord will not accept favoritism against the poor, but he will heed the prayer of one who has been harmed.

Sir35:Sir32:13  He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed.

17  He will not despise the prayers of the orphan, nor of the widow, if she utters a lamenting complaint.

18  Do a widow’s tears not run down her cheek? And will her outcry not cause their downfall?

Sir35:Sir32:15  Do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?

19  For from her cheek, her tears ascend even to heaven. And the Lord, the One who listens, will not take delight in them.

20  Whoever adores God with joy will be accepted, and his prayer will reach even to the clouds.

Sir35:Sir32:16  He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds.

21  The prayer of one who humbles himself will pierce the clouds. And it will not be consoled until it draws near; and it will not withdraw until the Most High beholds.

Sir35:Sir32:17  The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgement.

22  And the Lord will not delay, and he will judge for those who are just, and he will accomplish judgment. And the Almighty will not have patience with them, so that he may crush their back.

Sir35:Sir32:18  For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous;

23  And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, until he has taken away the multitude of the arrogant, and broken the scepters of the iniquitous,

24  until he has rendered to men according to their deeds, and according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption,

Sir35:Sir32:19  Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.

25  until he has judged the judgment of his people. And he will delight the just with his mercy.

26  The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of tribulation, like a rain cloud in the time of drought.

Sir35:Sir32:20  Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

36:1  O God of all, take pity on us, and look with favor on us, and show us the light of your compassion.

Sir36:Sir33:1  Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us

36:2  And send your fear upon the Gentiles, who have not sought you, so that they may acknowledge that there is no God except you, and so that they may declare your great deeds.

2  And send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after thee.

36:3  Lift up your hand over unbelieving nations, so that they may see your power.

3  Lift up thy hand against the strange nations, and let them see thy power.

36:4  For just as, in their sight, you have been sanctified in us, so also, in our sight, you will be magnified in them.

4  As thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be thou magnified among them before us.

36:5  So may they know you, as we also have known you. For there is no God apart from you, O Lord.

5  And let them know thee, as we have known thee, that there is no God but only thou, O God.

36:6  Renew your signs, and work new wonders.

7  Glorify your hand and your right arm.

6  Shew new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy hand and thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous works.

36:7  Stir up your fury, and pour out your wrath.

8  Take away our adversary, and afflict our enemy.

7  Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath: take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy.

36:8  Hasten the time, and remember the end, so that they may declare your miracles.

8  Sake the time short, remember the covenant, and let them declare thy wonderful works.

36:9  Let those who escape be devoured by the wrath of fire. And let those who harass your people find perdition.

9  Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire; and let them perish that oppress the people.

36:10  Crush the head of the leaders of the enemies, for they say: “There is no other beside us.”

10  Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none other but we.

36:11  Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, so that they may acknowledge that there is no God except you, and so that they may declare your great deeds. And you will inherit them, as from the beginning.

11  Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit thou them, as from the beginning.

36:12  A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.

36:14  Take pity on your people, over whom your name has been invoked, and on Israel, whom you have treated as your firstborn.

36:15  Take pity on Jerusalem, the city of your sanctification, the city of your rest.

36:16  Fill Zion with your ineffable words, and fill your people with your glory.

36:17  Give testimony to those who have been your creations from the beginning, and lift up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in your name.

36:18  Give a reward to those who endure for you, so that your prophets may be found to be faithful. And heed the prayers of your servants,

36:19  in accord with the blessing of Aaron over your people. And direct us in the way of justice, and let all who inhabit the earth know that you are God, the Beholder of all ages.

36:20  The belly can devour any food, yet one meal is better than another.

36:21  The palate tests the meat of wild animals, and the understanding heart tests false words.

36:22  A corrupt heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.

36:23  A woman can receive any male, yet one daughter is better than another.

36:24  The beauty of a wife cheers the face of her husband, and rises above his desire, above all the desires of man.

36:25  If she offers healing words, then she both comforts and shows mercy; and so her husband is not like other men.

36:26  He who holds to a good wife establishes a possession. She is a helper in agreement with him, and she is a pillar of rest.

36:27  Where there is no hedge, a possession will be trampled. And where there is no wife, he will mourn her absence.

36:28  Who will trust one who has no nest, and who conceals himself wherever his course may take him, like a well-equipped robber passing from city to city?

37:2  But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.

2  Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?

37:3  O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?

3  O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?

37:4  A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.

4  There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.

37:5  There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.

37:6  You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.

6  Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.

37:7  Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.

37:8  Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.

Sir37:7  Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.

37:9  Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.

Sir37:8  Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,

37:10  Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you

Sir37:9  And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.

37:11  “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.

37:12  Do not discuss holiness with an irreligious man, nor justice with one who is unjust. You should not speak with a woman about her who is a rival, nor with a coward about war, nor with a merchant about exaggeration, nor with a buyer about selling, nor with a spiteful man about giving thanks,

Sir37:10  Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.

37:13  nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,

Sir37:11  Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.

37:14  nor with a worker hired for a year about the end of the year, nor with a lazy servant about great works. You should pay no heed to these persons in any matter of counsel.

37:15  But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,

Sir37:12  But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.

37:16  whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.

37:17  And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.

Sir37:13  And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.

37:18  At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.

Sir37:14  For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.

37:19  But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.

Sir37:15  And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.

37:20  In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.

Sir37:16  Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.

37:21  A wicked word can change the heart. From the heart four kinds of things arise: good and evil, life and death. And the tongue is continually their ruler. There is a man who is an astute teacher of many, and yet this is useless to his own soul.

17  The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.

18  Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.

37:22  A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.

Sir37:19  There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

37:23  Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.

Sir37:20  There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.

37:24  Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.

Sir37:21  For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

37:25  There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.

Sir37:22  Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.

37:26  A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.

37:27  A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.

Sir37:24  A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

37:28  The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.

Sir37:25  The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

37:29  A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.

Sir37:26  A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

37:30  Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.

Sir37:27  My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.

37:31  For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.

Sir37:28  For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.

37:32  Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.

Sir37:29  Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats

37:33  For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.

Sir37:30  For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.

37:34  By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.

Sir37:31  By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.

38:1  Honor the physician because of necessity, and because the Most High created him.

1  Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.

38:2  For all healing is from God, and so he will receive gifts from the King.

2  For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king.

38:3  The expertise of the physician will lift up his head, and in the sight of great men, he will be praised.

3  The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.

38:4  The Most High has created medicines from the earth, and a prudent man will not abhor them.

4  The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.

38:5  Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?

5  Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?

38:6  The benefits of these things is recognized by men, and the Most High has given this knowledge to men, so that he may be honored in his wonders.

6  And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.

38:7  By these things, he will cure or mitigate their suffering, and the pharmacist will make soothing ointments, and he will form healing medicines, and there will be no end to his works.

7  With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains.

38:8  For the peace of God is upon the surface of the earth.

8  Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,

38:9  Son, in your infirmity, you should not neglect yourself, but pray to the Lord, and he will cure you.

9  My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.

38:10  Turn away from sin, and direct your hands, and cleanse your heart from every offense.

10  Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.

38:11  Give a sweet offering, and a memorial of fine flour, and fatten your oblation, but also give a place to the physician.

11  Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.

38:12  For the Lord created him. And so, do not let him depart from you, for his works are necessary.

12  Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.

38:13  For there is a time when you may fall into their hands.

13  There is a time when in their hands there is good success.

38:14  Truly, they will beseech the Lord, so that he may direct their treatments and cures, for the sake of their way of life.

14  For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.

38:15  He who sins in the sight of the One who made him will fall into the hands of the physician.

15  He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.

38:16  Son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to weep, as if you had suffered dreadfully. And according to judgment, cover his body, and you should not neglect his burial.

16  My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.

38:17  And though you will sink down into bitterness, bear his mourning for one day, and then be consoled in your sadness.

17  Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.

38:18  And carry out his mourning, according to his merit, for one or two days because of this loss.

38:19  Yet sadness hastens death and overwhelms strength, and the sorrow of the heart bows down the neck.

Sir38:18  For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.

38:20  When one is taken away, sorrow remains. But the resources of a destitute man is found in his heart.

Sir38:19  In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.

38:21  You should not give your heart over to sadness, but push it away from you. And remember the very end.

Sir38:20  Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end.

38:22  Do not be willing to forget this; for there is no turning back. Otherwise, it will not benefit you, and you will cause great harm to yourself.

Sir38:21  Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.

38:23  Call to mind my judgment. For so shall it be for you also. Yesterday is mine, and today is yours.

Sir38:22  Remember my judgement: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee.

38:24  When the deceased is at rest, let his memory rest also. And console him at the departure of his spirit.

Sir38:23  When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.

38:25  The wisdom of a scribe is found in his time of leisure. So whoever has less to do will gain wisdom.

Sir38:24  The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.

38:26  With what wisdom will someone be filled who holds the plow, and who boasts of the cattle prod that drives the oxen forward, and who is occupied in these labors, and whose only conversation is about the offspring of bulls?

Sir38:25  How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?

38:27  He will give his mind over to the plowing of furrows, and his vigilance to the fattening of the cows.

Sir38:26  He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.

38:28  Similarly, every craftsman and artisan, who crafts in the night as well as in the day, who sculpts graven seals, and who, by his diligence, varies the image, will give his mind over to the likeness of the image. And he will complete the work by his vigilance.

Sir38:27  So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work

38:29  The blacksmith, sitting by his anvil and considering a work of iron, is similar. The steam from the fire singes his flesh, and he struggles against the heat of the furnace.

Sir38:28  The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly

38:30  The voice of the hammer is ever in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the ironwork.

38:31  He gives his heart to the completion of his work, and his vigilance adorns it to perfection.

38:32  The potter, sitting at his work and turning the wheel with his feet, is similar. He has settled into a continual concern for his work, and there is a rhythm in all that he does.

Sir38:29  So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;

38:33  He forms the clay with his arm, and he bends his strength over his feet.

Sir38:30  He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace

38:34  He will give his heart over to the completion of the glazing, and his vigilance to the cleansing of the furnace.

38:35  All these persons trust in their own hands, and each one is wise in his own art.

Sir38:31  All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work.

38:36  Without these persons, a city is not built.

Sir38:32  Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down

38:37  But they will neither inhabit nor walk around in the city. And they will not go across to the church.

38:38  They will not sit upon the seats of judges, and they will not understand a decree of judgment. And they will not make clear discipline and judgment, and they will not be found to understand parables.

Sir38:33  They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgement: they cannot declare justice and judgement; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.

38:39  But they will strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer will be in their artistic works, applying their soul, and searching the law of the Most High.

Sir38:34  But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.

39:1  A wise man will seek the wisdom of all the ancients, and he will be occupied in the prophets.

1  But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.

39:2  He will preserve the words of renowned men, and he will enter with them into the subtleties of parables.

39:3  He will search for the hidden meanings of proverbs, and he will become familiar with the mysteries of parables.

3  He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.

39:4  He will minister in the midst of great men, and he will appear in the sight of the foremost leader.

4  He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.

39:5  He will pass through the land of foreign nations. For he will test good and evil among men.

39:6  At first light, he will offer his heart with watchfulness to the Lord who made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High.

Sir39:5  He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.

39:7  He will open his mouth in prayer, and he will make supplication for his offenses.

39:8  For if the great Lord is willing, he will fill him with the Spirit of understanding.

Sir39:6  When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.

39:9  And he will send forth the eloquence of his wisdom like rain showers, and in his prayer, he will confess to the Lord.

39:10  And he will direct his counsel and his discipline, and he will meditate on his mysteries.

Sir39:7  He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

39:11  He will make the discipline of his doctrine clear, and he will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

Sir39:8  He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

39:12  Many persons will together praise his wisdom, and it will never be abolished, for all ages.

Sir39:9  Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.

39:13  The memory of him will not fade away, and his name will be sought from generation to generation.

39:14  The peoples will declare his wisdom, and the Church will announce his praise.

Sir39:10  Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.

39:15  While he remains, he leaves behind a name greater than a thousand, and when he will rest, it will be to his benefit.

Sir39:11  If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.

39:16  I will meditate further, so that I may explain. For I have been filled with a passion.

Sir39:12  Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.

39:17  In a voice, he says: Listen to me, divine fruits. You shall bear fruit, like roses planted beside streams of waters.

Sir39:13  Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field

39:18  You shall have a sweet fragrance, like the cedars of Lebanon.

39:19  Blossom with flowers, like the lily, and diffuse a fragrance, and sprout leaves in grace, and give praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.

Sir39:14  And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.

39:20  Give magnificence to his name, and confess to him with the voice of your lips and with the canticles of your mouth and with stringed instruments. And in so praising him, you will confess

Sir39:15  Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner

39:21  All the works of the Lord are very good.

Sir39:16  All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.

39:22  At his word, the waters stood still, as if piled together. And at the words of his mouth, the waters were contained, as if in basins of water.

Sir39:17  And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.

39:23  For it is made pleasing by his precept, and there is no decrease in his salvation.

Sir39:18  At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.

39:24  The works of all flesh are in his sight, and there is nothing hidden from his eyes.

39:25  His gaze is from eternity to eternity, and nothing is a wonder in his sight.

Sir39:20  He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.

39:26  Let it not be said: “What is this?” or, “What is that?” For all things will be sought in their time.

Sir39:21  A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.

39:27  His blessing has overflowed like a river.

Sir39:22  His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.

39:28  In the same way that a flood inundates the dry land, so also will his wrath inherit the peoples that have not sought him.

Sir39:23  As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.

39:29  In the same way that he turned the waters into dry land, and made the earth dry, and just as his ways have been directed for their journey, so also will sinners stumble before his wrath.

Sir39:24  As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.

39:30  From the beginning, good things were created for those who are good, and similarly, good and evil things are for those who are wicked.

Sir39:25  For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.

39:31  The principal things necessary for the life of men are: water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and flour for bread, and honey, and the grape cluster, and oil, and clothing.

39:32  All these things will be used for good by those who are holy, but they will be turned to evil use by the impious and by sinners.

Sir39:27  All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.

39:33  There are spirits that have been created for vengeance, and they strengthen their torments by their fury.

Sir39:28  There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.

39:34  In the time of the consummation, they will pour forth their strength. And they will appease the fury of the One who made them.

39:35  Fire, hail, famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance.

Sir39:29  Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;

39:36  The teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the spear: all these take vengeance upon the impious, unto utter destruction.

Sir39:30  Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.

39:37  At his command, they will feast. And they will be prepared upon the earth until they are needed. And in their time, they will not ignore his word.

Sir39:31  They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.

39:38  For this reason, from the beginning, I was strengthened, and I have meditated, and I have considered, and I have put these things in writing.

Sir39:32  Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.

39:39  All the works of the Lord are good, and he will provide for each work in its own hour.

39:40  Let it not be said: “This is worse than that.” For all things will be tested in their time.

Sir39:34  So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.

39:41  And now, with the whole heart and mouth, give praise to him, and bless the name of the Lord.

Sir39:35  And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.