Sirach 39:16–35

16 The works of God bare all goodb,

cAnd supply every need in its seasonc.

17 (21 c) ccNone may say: This is worse than that;

(21 d)  For everything availeth in its seasoncc.

d(By His word) He ordereth (the luminaries in the heavenly height)d,

eAnd by the utterance of His mouth in His treasurye.

HB 18 fIn His place (?) His good pleasure attaineth its endf,

And there is no grestraintg to His deliverance.

19 hThe worksh of all flesh are before Him,

And there is nothing hid from before His eyes.

20 iFrom everlasting to everlasting He beholdethi,

jAnd there is nothing small or petty with Him;

Is there limit (?) to His deliverance?j

There is nothing too wonderful or hard for Him.

k 21 (a) None may say: lWherefore is thisl?

21 (b)  For everything mis selected for its usem.

22 nHis blessingn overfloweth as the Nile,

And osaturatetho the world plike the Riverp.

23 qEven so His wrath dispossesseth nationsq,

And He turneth a watered land into salt.

24 rHis pathsr sare plain for the blamelesss;

Even so tthey offer obstaclest uto the presumptuousu.

HB 25 Good things for the goodv hath He allottedv from the beginning;

Even so to the evil wgood and evilw.

26 x(The chief of all the necessaries)x of life for man

Are water and fire, and iron and salt,

xxThe fat of wheatxx, milk and honey,

The blood of the grape, oil and clothing.

27 All these prove good to the good—

Even so for the evil they are turned yto evily.

28 zThere are (winds) which are formed (for punishment)z,

a(And in their fury)a bremove moun(tains)b.

G (S) cIn the season of destruction they pour out their force,

And appease the spirit of their creatorc.

HB 29 Fire and hail, d[famine]d and pestilence—

These also are formed for judgement.

30 eBeasts of preye, scorpions and vipers,

And the avenging sword to exterminate the wicked—

fAll these are created for their uses,

And are in the treasure-house (ready) to be requisitioned in due timef:

31 When He giveth them the command they rejoice,

And gin their prescribed tasksg disobey not His behest.

32 Therefore from the beginning hI was assuredh,

And when I had considered it I set it down in writing:

HB 33 iThe worksi of God are all good,

jThey supplyj every need in its season.

34 None may say: This is worse than that;

For everything kavailethk in its season.

35 And now ring out lwhole-heartedlyl

And praise the name of the Holy One!

(a) 40:1–17. The woes of humanity and the destruction of evil

(= 3 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 distichs).