Ecclesiasticus, 39

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.

1. Quite different is it with the person who spends his life reflecting on the Law of the Most High. He examines the wisdom of the sages in times past and in his free time he studies prophecies.

2. He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.

2. He keeps in mind what men of renown have said and penetrates the mystery of parables.

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

3. He searches for the inner meaning of proverbs and is interested in the secret of parables.

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.

4. He is at the service of great men and is seen in the company of leaders. He travels in foreign lands and has experience of both the good and the evil in mankind.

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.

5. Early in the morning his heart is set on turning to the Lord, his Maker, and raising his being to the Most High. He opens his mouth in prayer and makes supplication because of his sins.

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.

6. If such is the will of the great Lord he will be filled with the spirit of discernment. He will then speak words of wisdom and celebrate the Lord in prayer.

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

7. He will acquire just judgment and knowledge and reflect on the Lord's hidden mysteries.

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

8. In his teaching he discloses what he has learned and glories in the law of the Lord's covenant.

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.

9. Many people praise his discernment and never will he be forgotten. His memory will not fade and his name will live on from generation to generation.

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

10. Nations will proclaim his wisdom and the assembly will celebrate his praise.

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

11. As long as he lives his name will be more glorious than a thousand others, and when he dies that fame will be enough.

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

12. I wish to share still more of my reflections; I am filled with them just as the moon is said to be full.

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

13. Hear me, devoted people, and grow as a rose planted near a stream.

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.

14. Spread fragrance around you like incense; blossom and perfume the air like a lily; sing a hymn and bless Yahweh for all his works.

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:

15. Magnify his Name and proclaim his praise with song and lyre, expressing this with thanksgiving.

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

16. How magnificent are the works of the Lord! All his commands are appropriately timed and satisfy every need. No one should say: "What is this? Why is that?" All must be studied in its time.

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.

17. At his word the waters ceased to flow and piled up, his voice caused the reservoir of water to open;

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

18. at his order his every wish is fulfilled, and no one hinders his work of salvation.

19. The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.

19. The deeds of every man are before him, nothing is hidden from his eyes;

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

20. he sees all from eternity to eternity and nothing surprises him.

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

21. No one must say: "What is that? Why is it so?" for everything is created for a purpose.

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

22. His blessing covers all things and like a river drenches the land as in a flood.

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

23. Similarly he may pour out his wrath on the nations, just as he has turned fresh water into salt.

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

24. If his ways are smooth for holy people they are full of obstacles for the wicked.

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

25. From the beginning, good things have been created for the good and likewise evil things for the wicked.

26. The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

26. Most necessary for man's life are water, fire, iron and salt, wheaten flour, milk, honey, the juice of the grape, oil and clothing.

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

27. All these are good for those who are good, but for sinners they become evil.

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.

28. Certain winds are created as a means of punishment and in their fury they are a scourge, unleashing their violence in the time of destruction and satisfying the wrath of their Creator.

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

29. Fire, hail, famine and death have all been created for punishment.

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

30. The fangs of wild beasts, scorpions, vipers and the avenging sword for the destruction of the wicked,

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.

31. all joyfully carry out his commands, all are ready when need arises and at a given moment they will not fail to obey his word.

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

32. For that reason I reflected and from the beginning I decided to write:

33. All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.

33. All the works of the Lord are good and he will satisfy every need in due time.

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

34. You must not say: This is less good than that, for in its time everything will serve a purpose.

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

35. So now, with all your heart and in full voice, sing and bless the Name of the Lord.