Sirach 39:16–35

The works of God are all good,

And supply every need in its season.

None may say: This is worse than that;

For everything availeth in its season.

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

And by the utterance of His mouth in His treasury.

In His place ⁽?⁽ His good pleasure attaineth its end,

And there is no restraint to His deliverance.

The works of all flesh are before Him,

And there is nothing hid from before His eyes.

From everlasting to everlasting He beholdeth,

And there is nothing small or petty with Him;

Is there limit ⁽?⁽ to His deliverance?

There is nothing too wonderful or hard for Him.

None may say: Wherefore is this?

For everything is selected for its use.

His blessing overfloweth as the Nile,

And saturateth the world like the River.

Even so His wrath dispossesseth nations,

And He turneth a watered land into salt.

His pathsare plain for the blameless;

Even so they offer obstaclesto the presumptuous.

Good things for the good hath He allotted from the beginning;

Even so to the evil good and evil.

⁽The chief of all the necessaries⁽ of life for man

Are water and fire, and iron and salt,

The fat of wheat, milk and honey,

The blood of the grape, oil and clothing.

All these prove good to the good—

Even so for the evil they are turned to evil.

There are ⁽winds⁽ which are formed ⁽for punishment⁽,

⁽And in their fury⁽remove moun⁽tains⁽.

In the season of destruction they pour out their force,

And appease the spirit of their creator.

Fire and hail, ^[famine^[ and pestilence—

These also are formed for judgement.

Beasts of prey, scorpions and vipers,

And the avenging sword to exterminate the wicked—

All these are created for their uses,

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

When He giveth them the command they rejoice,

And in their prescribed tasks disobey not His behest.

Therefore from the beginning I was assured,

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

The works of God are all good,

They supply every need in its season.

None may say: This is worse than that;

For everything availeth in its season.

And now ring out whole-heartedly

And praise the name of the Holy One!