OLD TESTAMENT							NEW TESTAMENT
The 7 Books	Old Testament History		Wisdom Books	Major Prophets	Minor Prophets		NT History	Epistles of St. Paul		General Writings
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuter. Joshua Judges	Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chron. 2 Chron.	Ezra Nehem. Tobit Judith Esther 1 Macc. 2 Macc.	Job Psalms Proverbs Eccles. Songs Wisdom Sirach	Isaiah Jeremiah Lament. Baruch Ezekiel Daniel	Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah	Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi	Matthew Mark Luke John Acts	Romans 1 Corinth. 2 Corinth. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians	1 Thess. 2 Thess. 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews	James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

Sirach 24

« 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 »

1 ἡ σοφία αἰνέσει ψυχὴν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐν μέσῳ λαοῦ αὐτῆς καυχήσεται 2 ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ὑψίστου στόμα αὐτῆς ἀνοίξει καὶ ἔναντι δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ καυχήσεται 3 4

1 Hear now how wisdom speaks in her own regard, of the honour God has given her, of the boast she utters among the nation that is hers. 2 In the court of the most High, in the presence of all his host, she makes her boast aloud, 3 and here, amid the holy gathering of her own people, that high renown of hers is echoed; 4 praise is hers from God’s chosen, blessing from blessed lips.

1

Sapientia laudabit animam suam,
et in Deo honorabitur,
et in medio populi sui gloriabitur, 2
et in ecclesiis Altissimi aperiet os suum,
et in conspectu virtutis illius gloriabitur, 3
et in medio populi sui exaltabitur,
et in plenitudine sancta admirabitur, 4
et in multitudine electorum habebit laudem,
et inter benedictos benedicetur, dicens:

5 ἐγὼ ἀπὸ στόματος ὑψίστου ἐξῆλθον 6 καὶ ὡς ὁμίχλη κατεκάλυψα γῆν 7 ἐγὼ ἐν ὑψηλοῖς κατεσκήνωσα καὶ ὁ θρόνος μου ἐν στύλῳ νεφέλης 8 γῦρον οὐρανοῦ ἐκύκλωσα μόνη καὶ ἐν βάθει ἀβύσσων περιεπάτησα ἐν κύμασιν θαλάσσης 9 καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἐν παντὶ λαῷ

5 I am that word, she says, that was uttered by the mouth of the most High, the primal birth before ever creation began. 6 Through me light rose in the heavens, inexhaustible; it was I that covered, as with a mist, the earth. 7 In high heaven was my dwelling-place, my throne a pillar of cloud; 8 none but I might span the sky’s vault, pierce the depth of the abyss, walk on the sea’s waves; 9 no part of earth but gave a resting-place to my feet.

5
Ego ex ore Altissimi prodivi,
primogenita ante omnem creaturam. 6
Ego feci in cælis ut oriretur lumen indeficiens,
et sicut nebula texi omnem terram. 7
Ego in altissimis habitavi,
et thronus meus in columna nubis. 8
Gyrum cæli circuivi sola,
et profundum abyssi penetravi:
in fluctibus maris ambulavi. 9
Et in omni terra steti:
et in omni populo,

10 καὶ ἔθνει ἐκτησάμην 11 μετὰ τούτων πάντων ἀνάπαυσιν ἐζήτησα καὶ ἐν κληρονομίᾳ τίνος αὐλισθήσομαι 12 τότε ἐνετείλατό μοι ὁ κτίστης ἁπάντων καὶ ὁ κτίσας με κατέπαυσεν τὴν σκηνήν μου 13 καὶ εἶπεν ἐν Ιακωβ κατασκήνωσον καὶ ἐν Ισραηλ κατακληρονομήθητι 14 πρὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἀ{P'} ἀρχῆς ἔκτισέν με καὶ ἕως αἰῶνος οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπω ἐν σκηνῇ ἁγίᾳ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐλειτούργησα 15 καὶ οὕτως ἐν Σιων ἐστηρίχθην ἐν πόλει ἠγαπημένῃ ὁμοίως με κατέπαυσεν καὶ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ ἡ ἐξουσία μου 16 καὶ ἐρρίζωσα ἐν λαῷ δεδοξασμένῳ ἐν μερίδι κυρίου κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ

10 People was none, nor any race of men, but I had dominion there; 11 high and low, my power ruled over men’s hearts. Yet with all these I sought rest in vain; it is among the Lord’s people that I mean to dwell. 12 He who fashioned me, he, my own Creator, has found me a dwelling-place; 13 and his command to me was that I should find my home in Jacob, throw in my lot with Israel, take root among his chosen race. 14 From the beginning of time, before the worlds, he had made me, unfailing to all eternity; in his own holy dwelling-place I had waited on his presence; 15 and now, no less faithfully, I made Sion my stronghold, the holy city my resting-place, Jerusalem my throne. 16 My roots spread out among the people that enjoys his favour, my God has granted me a share in his own domain; where his faithful servants are gathered I love to linger.

10
et in omni gente primatum habui: 11
et omnium excellentium et humilium corda virtute calcavi.
Et in his omnibus requiem quæsivi,
et in hæreditate Domini morabor. 12
Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium:
et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo. 13
Et dixit mihi: In Jacob inhabita,
et in Israël hæreditare,
et in electis meis mitte radices. 14

Ab initio et ante sæcula creata sum,
et usque ad futurum sæculum non desinam:
et in habitatione sancta coram ipso ministravi. 15
Et sic in Sion firmata sum,
et in civitate sanctificata similiter requievi,
et in Jerusalem potestas mea. 16
Et radicavi in populo honorificato,
et in parte Dei mei hæreditas illius,
et in plenitudine sanctorum detentio mea.

17 ὡς κέδρος ἀνυψώθην ἐν τῷ Λιβάνῳ καὶ ὡς κυπάρισσος ἐν ὄρεσιν Αερμων 18 ὡς φοῖνιξ ἀνυψώθην ἐν Αιγγαδοις καὶ ὡς φυτὰ ῥόδου ἐν Ιεριχω 19 ὡς ἐλαία εὐπρεπὴς ἐν πεδίῳ καὶ ἀνυψώθην ὡς πλάτανος 20 ὡς κιννάμωμον καὶ ἀσπάλαθος ἀρωμάτων δέδωκα ὀσμὴν καὶ ὡς σμύρνα ἐκλεκτὴ διέδωκα εὐωδίαν 21 ὡς χαλβάνη καὶ ὄνυξ καὶ στακτὴ καὶ ὡς λιβάνου ἀτμὶς ἐν σκηνῇ 22 ἐγὼ ὡς τερέμινθος ἐξέτεινα κλάδους μου καὶ οἱ κλάδοι μου κλάδοι δόξης καὶ χάριτος 23 ἐγὼ ὡς ἄμπελος ἐβλάστησα χάριν καὶ τὰ ἄνθη μου καρπὸς δόξης καὶ πλούτου

17 I grew to my full stature as cedar grows on Lebanon, as cypress on Sion’s hill; 18 or a palm tree in Cades, or a rose bush in Jericho; 19 grew like some fair olive in the valley, some plane-tree in a well-watered street. 20 Cinnamon and odorous balm have no scent like mine; the choicest myrrh has no such fragrance. 21 Perfumed is all my dwelling-place with storax, and galbanum, and onycha, and stacte, and frankincense uncrushed; the smell of me is like pure balm. 22 Mastic-tree spread not its branches so wide, as I the hopes I proffer of glory and of grace. 23 No vine ever yielded fruit so fragrant; the enjoyment of honour and riches is the fruit I bear.

17

Quasi cedrus exaltata sum in Libano,
et quasi cypressus in monte Sion: 18
quasi palma exaltata sum in Cades,
et quasi plantatio rosæ in Jericho: 19
quasi oliva speciosa in campis,
et quasi platanus exaltata sum juxta aquam in plateis. 20
Sicut cinnamomum et balsamum aromatizans odorem dedi;
quasi myrrha electa dedi suavitatem odoris: 21
et quasi storax, et galbanus, et ungula, et gutta,
et quasi Libanus non incisus vaporavi habitationem meam,
et quasi balsamum non mistum odor meus. 22
Ego quasi terebinthus extendi ramos meos,
et rami mei honoris et gratiæ. 23
Ego quasi vitis fructificavi suavitatem odoris:
et flores mei fructus honoris et honestatis.

24 25 26 προσέλθετε πρός με οἱ ἐπιθυμοῦντές μου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν γενημάτων μου ἐμπλήσθητε 27 τὸ γὰρ μνημόσυνόν μου ὑπὲρ τὸ μέλι γλυκύ καὶ ἡ κληρονομία μου ὑπὲρ μέλιτος κηρίον 28 29 οἱ ἐσθίοντές με ἔτι πεινάσουσιν καὶ οἱ πίνοντές με ἔτι διψήσουσιν 30 ὁ ὑπακούων μου οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσεται καὶ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐν ἐμοὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσουσιν 31

24 It is I that give birth to all noble loving, all reverence, all true knowledge, and the holy gift of hope. 25 From me comes every grace of faithful observance, from me all promise of life and vigour. 26 Hither turn your steps, all you that have learned to long for me; take your fill of the increase I yield. 27 Never was honey so sweet as the influence I inspire, never honey-comb as the gift I bring; 28 mine is a renown that endures, age after age. 29 Eat of this fruit, and you will yet hunger for more; drink of this wine, and your thirst for it is still unquenched. 30 He who listens to me will never be disappointed; he who lives by me will do no wrong; 31 he who reads my lesson aright will find in it life eternal.

24
Ego mater pulchræ dilectionis, et timoris,
et agnitionis, et sanctæ spei. 25
In me gratia omnis viæ et veritatis:
in me omnis spes vitæ et virtutis. 26
Transite ad me, omnes qui concupiscitis me,
et a generationibus meis implemini: 27
spiritus enim meus super mel dulcis,
et hæreditas mea super mel et favum. 28
Memoria mea in generatione sæculorum. 29
Qui edunt me, adhuc esurient,
et qui bibunt me, adhuc sitient. 30
Qui audit me non confundetur,
et qui operantur in me non peccabunt: 31
qui elucidant me, vitam æternam habebunt.

32 ταῦτα πάντα βίβλος διαθήκης θεοῦ ὑψίστου νόμον ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν Μωυσῆς κληρονομίαν συναγωγαῖς Ιακωβ 33 34 35 ὁ πιμπλῶν ὡς Φισων σοφίαν καὶ ὡς Τίγρις ἐν ἡμέραις νέων 36 ὁ ἀναπληρῶν ὡς Εὐφράτης σύνεσιν καὶ ὡς Ιορδάνης ἐν ἡμέραις θερισμοῦ 37 ὁ ἐκφαίνων ὡς φῶς παιδείαν ὡς Γηων ἐν ἡμέραις τρυγήτου 38 οὐ συνετέλεσεν ὁ πρῶτος γνῶναι αὐτήν καὶ οὕτως ὁ ἔσχατος οὐκ ἐξιχνίασεν αὐτήν 39 ἀπὸ γὰρ θαλάσσης ἐπληθύνθη διανόημα αὐτῆς καὶ ἡ βουλὴ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ ἀβύσσου μεγάλης

32 What things are these I write of? What but the life-giving book that is the covenant of the most High, and the revelation of all truth? 33 What but the law Moses enjoined, with the duties it prescribes, the inheritance it bestows, the promises it holds out? 34 Solemnly he pledged himself to give his servant David an heir most valiant, that should hold his royal throne for ever. 35 Who but he[1] can make wisdom flow, deep as the stream Phison sends down, or Tigris, in the spring; 36 make the tide of prudence run, strong as Euphrates’ own, or Jordan’s tide in the month of harvest; 37 make obedience rise to its full height, like Nile[2] or Gehon when men gather the vintage? 38 He it was that first attained to wisdom’s secret, never since made known to any less than himself; 39 so deep are her thoughts, sea-deep, so dark her counsels, dark as the great abyss.

32

Hæc omnia liber vitæ,
et testamentum Altissimi, et agnitio veritatis. 33
Legem mandavit Moyses in præceptis justitiarum,
et hæreditatem domui Jacob,
et Israël promissiones. 34
Posuit David, puero suo,
excitare regem ex ipso fortissimum,
et in throno honoris sedentem in sempiternum. 35
Qui implet quasi Phison sapientiam,
et sicut Tigris in diebus novorum: 36
qui adimplet quasi Euphrates sensum,
qui multiplicat quasi Jordanis in tempore messis: 37
qui mittit disciplinam sicut lucem,
et assistens quasi Gehon in die vindemiæ. 38
Qui perficit primus scire ipsam,
et infirmior non investigabit eam. 39
A mari enim abundavit cogitatio ejus,
et consilium illius ab abysso magna.

40 From me rivers flow, says Wisdom, deep rivers.

40
Ego sapientiam effudi flumina:

41 κἀγὼ ὡς διῶρυξ ἀπὸ ποταμοῦ καὶ ὡς ὑδραγωγὸς ἐξῆλθον εἰς παράδεισον 42 εἶπα ποτιῶ μου τὸν κῆπον καὶ μεθύσω μου τὴν πρασιάν 43 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ διῶρυξ εἰς ποταμόν καὶ ὁ ποταμός μου ἐγένετο εἰς θάλασσαν 44 ἔτι παιδείαν ὡς ὄρθρον φωτιῶ καὶ ἐκφανῶ αὐτὰ ἕως εἰς μακράν 45 46 ἔτι διδασκαλίαν ὡς προφητείαν ἐκχεῶ καὶ καταλείψω αὐτὴν εἰς γενεὰς αἰώνων 47 ἴδετε ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἐκοπίασα ἀλ{L'} ἅπασιν τοῖς ἐκζητοῦσιν αὐτήν

41 And what am I?[3] A conduit that carries off the river’s overflow, its channel, the aqueduct that waters a park. 42 I thought to refresh my well-set garden, give drink to the fruits that fringe its border; 43 and all at once my channel overflowed, this stream of mine had nigh turned into a sea! 44 Teaching is here like the dawn for brightness, shedding its rays afar. 45 Nay, I will make my way down to the depths of earth, and visit those who sleep there, and to such as trust in the Lord I will bring light. 46 My teaching shall yet flow on, faithful as prophecy, heirloom to all such as make wisdom their quest, and to their children yet, until the holy days come. 47 See how I have toiled, not for my own sake merely, but for all such as covet wisdom!

41
ego quasi trames aquæ immensæ de fluvio:
ego quasi fluvii dioryx,
et sicut aquæductus exivi de paradiso. 42
Dixi: Rigabo hortum meum plantationum,
et inebriabo prati mei fructum. 43
Et ecce factus est mihi trames abundans,
et fluvius meus appropinquavit ad mare: 44
quoniam doctrinam quasi antelucanum illumino omnibus,
et enarrabo illam usque ad longinquum. 45
Penetrabo omnes inferiores partes terræ,
et inspiciam omnes dormientes,
et illuminabo omnes sperantes in Domino. 46
Adhuc doctrinam quasi prophetiam effundam,
et relinquam illam quærentibus sapientiam,
et non desinam in progenies illorum usque in ævum sanctum. 47
Videte quoniam non soli mihi laboravi,
sed omnibus exquirentibus veritatem.

[1] Some would render, ‘What but this …’, referring to the Law of Moses.

[2] Both the Latin and the Greek have, ‘like the light’; but the context makes it clear that they have overlooked a single vowel in the word which must have stood in the Hebrew original.

[3] vv. 41-46: Commentators are not agreed whether these words are to be understood as spoken by Wisdom, like verse 40, or by Ecclesiasticus himself, like verse 47 (cf. 33.18 below).

Knox Translation Copyright © 2013 Westminster Diocese
Nihil Obstat. Father Anton Cowan, Censor.
Imprimatur. +Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. 8th January 2012.
Re-typeset and published in 2012 by Baronius Press Ltd