Sirach 24

24Wisdom praiseth herself,

And is honoured among her people

She openeth her mouth in the assembly of the Most High,

And is honoured in the presence of His hosts.

‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

And as a mist I covered the earth.

In the high places did I fix my abode,

And my throne was in the pillar of cloud.

Alone I compassed the circuit of heaven,

And in the depth of the abyss I walked.

Over the waves of the sea, and over all the earth,

And over every people and nation I held sway.

With all these I sought a resting-place,

And ⁽said⁽: In whose inheritance shall I lodge?

Then the Creator of all things gave me commandment,

And He that created me fixed my dwelling-place ⁽for me⁽;

And He said: Let thy dwelling-place be in Jacob,

And in Israeltake up thine inheritance.

He created me from the beginning, before the world;

The memorial of me shall never cease.

In the holy tabernacle I ministered before Him,

Moreover in Zion was I established.

In the Holy City likewiseHe caused me to rest,

And in Jerusalem was my authority.

And I took root among an honoured people,

In the portion of the Lord ⁽and⁽ of His inheritance.

I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus,

And like an olive-tree on the mountains of Zion.

I was exalted like a palm-tree on the sea-shore,

And as rose-plants in Jericho;

And as a fair olive-tree in the plain;

Yea, I was exalted as a plane-tree by the waters.

As cinnamon and aspalathus have I given a scent of perfumes,

And as choice myrrh I spread abroad a pleasant odour;

As galbanum, and onyx, and stacte;

⁽I was⁽ as the smoke of incense in the Tabernacle.

I as a terebinthstretched forth my branches,

And my branches were branches of glory and grace.

I as a vine put forth grace,

And my flowers are the fruit of glory and wealth.

Come unto me, ye that desire me,

And be ye filled with my produce;

For my memorial is sweeter than honey,

And the possession of me than the honey-comb.

They that eat shall still hunger for me,

And they that drink me shall still thirst for me;

He that obeyeth me will not be ashamed,

And they that serve me will not commit sin.’

All these things are the book of the covenant of God Most High,

The Law which Moses commanded ⁽as⁽ an heritage for the assemblies of Jacob,

Which filleth ⁽men⁽ with wisdom, like Pison,

And like Tigris in the days of new ⁽fruits⁽;

Which overfloweth like Euphrates, with understanding,

And as Jordan in the days of harvest;

Which poureth forth, as the Nile, instruction,

And as Gihon in the days of vintage.

The first man knew her not perfectly,

So also the last will not trace her out;

For her understanding is more full than the sea,

And her counsel is greater than the deep.

And as for me, I ⁽was⁽ as a stream from the river,

And I came forth as a conduit into a garden;

I said: ‘I will water my garden,

I will abundantly water my garden beds’;

And lo, my stream became a river,

And my river became a sea.

Yet again will I bring instruction to light as the morning,

And will make these things shine forth afar off.

Yet again will I pour forth doctrine as prophecy,

And leave it for eternal generations.

Look ye ⁽and see⁽, that I have not laboured for myself only,

But for all those that diligently seek her.