1 Not so he who has applied his soul and meditates in the law of the Most High. He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients and will be occupied with prophecies. (WEB) 2 He will keep the sayings of the men of renown and will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables. (WEB) 3 He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs and be conversant in the dark sayings of parables. (WEB) 4 He will serve among great men and appear before him who rules. He will travel through the land of foreign nations, for he has learned what is good and evil among men. (WEB) 5 He will apply his heart to return early to the Lord who made him, and will make supplication before the Most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and will ask for pardon for his sins. (WEB) 6 If the great Lord wills, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he will pour forth the words of his wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the Lord. (WEB) 7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge, and he will meditate in his secrets. (WEB) 8 He will show the instruction which he has been taught and will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. (WEB) 9 Many will commend his understanding. So long as the world endures, it won’t be blotted out. His memory won’t depart. His name will live from generation to generation. (WEB) 10 Nations will declare his wisdom. The congregation will proclaim his praise. (WEB) 11 If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand. If he finally rests, it is enough for him. (WEB) 12 Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon. (WEB) 13 Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water. (WEB) 14 Give a sweet fragrance like frankincense. Put forth flowers like a lily. Scatter a sweet smell and sing a song of praise. Bless the Lord for all his works! (WEB) 15 Magnify his name and give utterance to his praise with the songs on your lips and with harps! Say this when you utter his praise: (WEB) 16 All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time. (WEB) 17 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for at the proper time they will all be sought out. At his word, the waters stood as a heap, as did the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth. (WEB) 18 At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation. (WEB) 19 The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes. (WEB) 20 He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him. (WEB) 21 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses. (WEB) 22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood. (WEB) 23 As he has made the waters salty,… (WEB) 24 … (WEB)
Sirach 39:1–35
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 15:9–11
9 Praise is not attractive in the mouth of a sinner; for it was not sent to him from the Lord. (WEB) 10 For praise will be spoken in wisdom; The Lord will prosper it. (WEB) 11 Don’t say, “It is through the Lord that I fell away;” for you shall not do the things that he hates. (WEB)
2 Baruch 44:5–7
5 And see ye what hath befallen Zion, And what hath happened to Jerusalem. (2BA) 6 For the judgement of the Mighty One shall (thereby) be made known, And His ways, which, though past finding out, are right. (2BA) 7 For if ye endure and persevere in His fear, And do not forget Hi… (2BA)
Sirach 42:21–23
21 He has ordered the mighty works of his wisdom. He is from everlasting to everlasting. Nothing has been added to them, nor diminished from them. He had no need of any counselor. (WEB) 22 How desirable are all his works! One may see this even in a spark. (WEB) 23 All these things… (WEB)
Sirach 43:25–27
25 There are also those strange and wondrous works in it— variety of all that has life and the huge creatures of the sea. (WEB) 26 Because of him, his messengers succeed. By his word, all things hold together. (WEB) 27 We may say many things, but couldn’t say enough. The summary of… (WEB)
2 Esdras 8:47–49
47 For you come far short of being able to love my creature more than I. But you have compared yourself to the unrighteous. Don’t do that! (WEB) 48 Yet in this will you be admirable to the Most High, (WEB) 49 in that you have humbled yourself, as it becomes you, and have not judged… (WEB)
Sirach 42:14–16
14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a pleasant woman, a woman who puts you to shame and disgrace. (WEB) 15 I will make mention now of the works of the Lord, and will declare the things that I have seen. The Lord’s works are in his words. (WEB) 16 The sun that gives light look… (WEB)
Sirach 15:18–20
18 For the wisdom of the Lord is great. He is mighty in power, and sees all things. (WEB) 19 His eyes are upon those who fear him. He knows every act of man. (WEB) 20 He has not commanded any man to be ungodly. He has not given any man license to sin. (WEB)
Odes of Solomon 16:8–10
8 For the word of the Lord searches out all things, both the invisible and that which reveals His thought; (ODE) 9 For the eye sees His works, and the ear hears His thought; (ODE) 10 He spread out the earth and He settled the waters in the sea: (ODE)
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