KJB-1611 by section SIR 39:0

⌂ ← SIR 39:0–39:35 → ║ ©

Wisdom of Sirach / Ecclesiasticus 39

0 1 A description of him that is truely wise. 12 An exhortation to praise God for his workes, which are good to the good, and euill to them that are euill. XXXIX ¶ But hee that giueth his minde to the Law of the most high, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, wil seeke out the wisdome of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies. 2 Hee will keepe the sayings of the renowmed men: and where subtile parables are, he will be there also. 3 Hee will seeke out the secrets of graue sentences, and be conuersant in darke parables. 4 He shall serue among great men, and appeare before princes: he will trauaile through strange countreys, for hee hath tried the good, and the euill among men. 5 Hee will giue 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 sinnes. 6 When the great Lord will, he shall bee filled with the spirit of vnderstanding: he shal powre out wise sentences, and giue thankes vnto the Lord in his prayer. 7 Hee shall direct his counsell and knowledge, and in his secrets shall hee meditate. 8 Hee shall shew foorth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the Law of the couenant of the Lord. 9 Many shall commend his vnderstanding, and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out, his memoriall shall not depart away, and his name shall liue from generation to generation. 10 [fn]Nations shall shewe foorth his wisedome, and the congregation shall declare his praise. 11 [fn]If hee die, he shall leaue a greater name then a thousand: and if he liue, he shall increase it. 12 Yet I haue more to say which I haue thought vpon, for I am filled as the Moone at the full. 13 [fn]Hearken vnto me, ye holy children, and budde foorth as a rose growing by the brooke of the field: 14 And giue yee a sweete sauour as frankincense, and flourish as a lilly, send foorth a smell, and sing a song of praise, blesse the Lord in all his workes. 15 Magnifie his Name, and shewe foorth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harpes, and in praising him you shall say after this maner: 16 [fn]Al the works of the Lord are exceeding good, & whatsoeuer hee commandeth, shalbe accomplished in due season. 17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time conuenient they shall all be sought out: at his commaundement the waters stood as an heape, & at the wordes of his mouth the receptacles of waters. 18 At his commandement is done whatsoeuer pleaseth him, and none can hinder when he will saue. 19 The workes of all flesh are before him, & nothing can be hid from his eyes. 20 He seeth from euerlasting to euerlasting, and there is nothing wonderfull before him. 21 A man neede not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for hee hath made all things for their vses. 22 His blessing couered the dry land as a riuer, and watered it as a flood. 23 As hee hath turned the waters into saltnesse: so shall the heathen inherite his wrath. 24 [fn]As his wayes are plaine vnto the holy, so are they stumbling blockes vnto the wicked. 25 For the good, are good things created from the beginning: so euill things for sinners. 26 The principall things for the whole vse of mans life, are water, fire, yron, and salt, floure of wheate, honie, milke, and the blood of the grape, and oyle, and clothing. 27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into euill. 28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their furie lay on sore strokes, in the time of destruction they powre out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them. 29 Fire, and haile, and famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance: 30 [fn]Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, & the sword, punishing the wicked to destruction. 31 They shall reioice in his commandement, and they shall bee ready vpon earth when neede is, and when their time is come, they shall not transgresse his word. 32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolued, and thought vpon these things, and haue left them in writing. 33 All the workes of the Lord are good: and he will giue euery needefull thing in due season. 34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse then that: for in time they shall all be well approued. 35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and blesse the Name of the Lord.

39:10 Chap. 44. 15.

39:11 Or, gaine vnto it.

39:13 Or, riuers of water.

39:16 Gen.1.31. mark.7.37.

39:24 Ose 14.10.

39:30 Or, vipers.