Sirach Chapter 24 - Catholic Public Domain Version
- 1
- Wisdom will praise her own mind, and she will be honored by God, and she will be glorified in the midst of her people.
- 2
- And she will open her mouth in the churches of the Most High, and she will be glorified in the sight of his virtue.
- 3
- And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly.
- 4
- And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say:
- 5
- "I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creatures.
- 6
- I caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloud.
- 7
- I lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.
- 8
- I alone have encompassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated to the depths of the abyss, and have walked upon the waves of the sea,
- 9
- and have stood upon the whole earth. And among every people,
- 10
- and in every nation, I have held primacy.
- 11
- And by virtue, I have tread upon the hearts of all, the great and the lowly. And I have sought my rest in all of them. And I will continue, as the inheritance of the Lord.
- 12
- Then the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacle.
- 13
- And he said to me: 'Let your dwelling place be with Jacob, and let your inheritance be in Israel, for you shall take root among my elect.'
- 14
- From the beginning, and before the world, I was created. And even unto the future world, I will not cease to exist. For I have ministered before him in the holy habitation.
- 15
- And in this way, I was established in Zion. And likewise, in the holy city, I found rest. And my authority was in Jerusalem.
- 16
- And I took root among an honorable people, within the portion of my God, within his inheritance. And so my abode is in the full assembly of the saints.
- 17
- I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion.
- 18
- I was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in Jericho.
- 19
- I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide road.
- 20
- I gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
- 21
- And I perfumed my dwelling place with sweet gum, and aromatic resin, and flower petals, and aloe, as well as the finest cedar from Lebanon. And my fragrance is like undiluted balsam.
- 22
- I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace.
- 23
- Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity.
- 24
- I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.
- 25
- All grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in me.
- 26
- Journey toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvest.
- 27
- For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycomb.
- 28
- My memory is for the generations of all ages.
- 29
- Whoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst still.
- 30
- Whoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sin.
- 31
- Whoever elucidates me will have eternal life."
- 32
- All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truth.
- 33
- Moses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.
- 34
- God appointed David as his servant, in order to raise up from him a most mighty King, who would sit upon the throne of honor forever.
- 35
- It is he who fulfills wisdom, like the Phison river and the Tigris river in the first days.
- 36
- It is he who fulfills understanding, like the river Euphrates. It is he who multiplies understanding, like the river Jordan in the time of the harvest.
- 37
- He sends forth discipline like the light, and he stands forth like the river Gehon in the time of the vintage.
- 38
- He first had perfect knowledge of her, for a weaker one would not search for her.
- 39
- For her thoughts abound like the sea, and her counsels abound like the great abyss.
- 40
- "I, wisdom, have poured forth rivers.
- 41
- I am like a brook leading to a river of immense waters. I am like a channel flowing from a river. And I went forth from Paradise like an aqueduct.
- 42
- I said: I will irrigate my garden of plantings, and I will thoroughly water the fruits of my field.
- 43
- And behold, my brook became overflowing, and my river drew near to the sea.
- 44
- For I illuminate doctrine to all, like the first light. And I will announce doctrine, even to those who are far away.
- 45
- I will reach to all the lower parts of the earth, and I will gaze upon all who sleep, and I will illuminate all who hope in the Lord.
- 46
- Even now, I pour forth doctrine like prophecy. And even now, I bequeath doctrine to those who seek wisdom. And I will not cease from their progeny, even unto the holy time.
- 47
- See how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking truth!"
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