Sirach 24
24
A Poem Praising Wisdom
* 1Wisdom sings her own praise
and tells her greatness
2to those who worship the Lord
and to the Lord's armies
in heaven.
3And this is what she says:
I came from the mouth
of God Most High
and like a mist I moved
over the earth.#24.3 like a … earth: See the note at 1.6. Here, Wisdom is comparing herself with the Spirit of God in Genesis 1.2.
4 #
Ex 33.9-11. Highest heaven was my home,
and my throne was a cloud.
5Only I could travel
around the horizon
and walk in ocean depths.
6I ruled every nation,
the land, and the sea.
7But where could I find
a place to settle down?
In what nation should I live?
8Then the Creator of the world
gave me a command
telling me to set up my tent
among the descendants of Jacob,
the people of Israel.
9He created me ages ago,
before time began,
and I will never die.
10I served in his sacred tent,
and later in the temple
in Zion.#24.10 Zion: A hill in Jerusalem, on which the temple and palace were built.
11He gave me a resting place
in Jerusalem, the city he loves,
and this is where I rule.
12Here, I put down roots
among the glorious people
who belong to the Lord.
13I grew tall, like a cedar tree
in Lebanon
or a cypress on Mount Hermon;
14like a palm tree at En-Gedi,
or the roses in Jericho;
like a beautiful olive tree
in a field,
or like an evergreen.
15My perfume smelled sweet
like the spices cinnamon and cane
mixed with fine myrrh,#24.15 the spices cinnamon … myrrh: With cassia and olive oil, the ingredients of the sacred oil for dedicating the sacred tent and its equipment (see Exodus 30.23-33).
or like smoke in the sacred tent
from the incense of galbanum,
onycha, and stacte.#24.15 galbanum … stacte: Mixed with frankincense, these were ingredients for the holy incense that was used in the sacred tent (see Exodus 30.34-38).
16I spread out my branches,
beautiful and graceful,
like a giant oak,
17and like a grapevine,
they grew buds and blossoms,
and finally clusters of rich,
sweet fruit.
18Beautiful love is my child,
and so are fear and knowledge
and hope that trusts God,
and he gives me and my children
to his own people.#24.18 people: Verse 18 is not in some manuscripts.
19So come, if you want,
and enjoy my fruit
until you are full.
20I am sweeter than honey
straight from the honeycomb,
and the sweet taste will remain
even when you have finished.
21But the more of me
that you eat and drink,
the more you will want.
22Obey me and let me work
in your life,
and you will never sin
or be disgraced.
Wisdom Is God's Law
23The wisdom of God Most High
is the Book of the Law
of Moses,
the agreement God made
with our ancestors
and gives to each new generation
as an inheritance.
24Always stay close
to the Lord All-Powerful, and he
will give you strength.
The Lord is the only true God—
he alone can rescue.#24.24 rescue: Verse 24 is not in some manuscripts.
* 25God's wisdom and understanding
overflow from his Law
just as in early springtime,#24.25 in early springtime: Greek “at the time of the first part of the harvest”; the grain harvest was in the spring.
the Tigris and Pishon Rivers,
26the Euphrates and the Jordan,
overflow their banks.
27God's teachings flood the land#24.27 God's teachings flood the land: One ancient translation; Greek “It makes God's teaching shine like light.”
like the Nile River#24.27 Nile River: The Greek also uses the name “Gihon River,” which was sometimes used as another name for the Nile.
in early fall.#24.27 in early fall: Greek “at the time of the grape harvest.”
28The first human did not know
Wisdom very well,
nor will the last one,
29because her thoughts
are wider than the ocean,
and her advice is deeper
than the sea.
30I thought of myself
as a small canal
from the river of God's Wisdom
to my garden,
31bringing water for my flowers
and fruit trees.
But soon this canal
became wide as a river
and then as the sea.
32And so, I will teach wisdom
and make it shine like sunrise,
clearly seen from far away.
33My words flow quickly,
and like a prophet
I will leave them
for generations not yet born.
34You see, my work hasn't been
for myself alone,
but for everyone who desires
to find Wisdom.
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Sirach 24: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.