Sirach, Chapter 43
1
The beauty of the height [of the heavens] is the clear firmament, And the vault of heaven is a spectacle of glory.
2
The sun when he goes forth pours out heat, How terrible are the works of Yahweh!
3
When it shines at noon it scorches the world, Before its burning [heat] who can stand?
4
A heated furnace makes the metal become heated, [But] the sending forth of the sun sets mountains ablaze. The rays from the light scorch the inhabited earth, And the light from the lamp scorches the eyes.
5
For great is Yahweh who made it, And his word causes his mighty one to shine.
6
And also the moon he made for its due season, To rule over periods for an everlasting sign.
7
By her festivals and the appointed times [are fixed], A light that wanes when she has come to the full.
8
Month by month she renews herself, How wonderful [is she] in her changing! A beacon for the hosts on high, Paving the firmament with her shining.
9
The beauty of heaven, and its glory [are] the stars, With their bright shining in the heights of God.
10
At the word of God they stand as decreed, And they do not sleep in their watches.
11
Behold the rainbow, and bless the Maker of it; It is exceedingly majestic in its glory;
12
It encompasses the [heavenly] vault in its glory, And the hand of God has spread it out in might.
13
His power sends out the lightning, And makes bright its flashes in judgement;
14
For it he created a treasure-house, And clouds fly forth as fowls.
15
By his mighty power he makes the clouds strong, And the hailstones are broken small.
16
The voice of his thunder makes the earth travail, By his strength he shakes the mountains. And the fear of him stirs up the south wind,
17
And the whirlwind of the north, and hurricane and tempest. Like birds he sprinkles his snow, And like settling locusts is the coming down of it;
18
The beauty of its whiteness dazzles the eyes, And the heart is amazed at the raining down of it.
19
Also the hoarfrost, he pours it out like salt, And he causes flowers to bloom like sapphires.
20
The cold of the north wind he causes to blow, And hardens the pond like a bottle; Upon every gathering of waters he spreads a crust, And the pond puts on, as it were, a breastplate.
21
The produce of the mountains he dries up with scorching heat, And the springing grass of the meadows as [with] a flame.
22
Healing for all things is the dropping from the clouds, The dew which speedily refreshed the parched ground.
23
By his counsel he has stilled the great deep, And has planted islands in the midst of the deep.
24
Those who go down to the sea declare its bounds, And when our ears hear it we marvel.
25
In it are marvels, the wonders of his works, All manner of living things, and mighty things of the deep.
26
For his own sake he makes his work prosper, And by his word he works his pleasure.
27
Yet more things like these we will not add, And the end of the matter is: He is all.
28
We will still magnify, though we cannot fathom, For greater is he than all his works.
29
Exceeding terrible is Yahweh, And wonderful are his mighty works.
30
You+ who magnify Yahweh, lift up your voice, As much as you+ are able, for there is yet more! You+ who exalt him, renew your strength, And do not be wearied, though you+ cannot fathom him.
31
Who has seen him that he may declare him? And who shall magnify him as he is?
32
Many things, greater than these, are hidden, I have only seen a few of his works.
33
Yahweh has made everything, And to the godly he has given wisdom.
Search the Bible
Search Tips:
- Use
|for OR searches:love|faith - Use
.*for wildcards:bless.* - Common searches:
christmas,easter,judgment