The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus

Chapter 24

1Wisdom will praise her own soul, and will proclaim her glory in the midst of her people. 2She will open her mouth in the congregation of the Most High, and proclaim her glory in the presence of his power. 3“I came out of the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth as a mist. 4I lived in high places, and my throne is in the pillar of the cloud. 5Alone I surrounded the circuit of heaven, and walked in the depth of the abyss. 6In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I obtained a possession. 7With all these I sought rest. In whose inheritance shall I lodge? 8Then the Creator of all things gave me a command. He who created me made my tent to rest, and said, ‘Let your dwelling be in Jacob, and your inheritance in Israel.’ 9He created me from the beginning, before the ages. For all ages, I will not cease to exist. 10In the holy tabernacle, I ministered before him. So I was established in Zion. 11In the beloved city, likewise he gave me rest. In Jerusalem was my domain. 12I took root in a people that was honored, even in the portion of the Lord’s own inheritance. 13I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon, And like a cypress tree on the mountains of Hermon. 14I was exalted like a palm tree on the sea shore, like rose bushes in Jericho, and like a fair olive tree in the plain. I was exalted like a plane tree. 15Like cinnamon and aspalathus, I have given a scent to perfumes. Like choice myrrh, I spread abroad a pleasant fragrance, like galbanum, onycha, stacte, and as the smell of frankincense in the tabernacle. 16Like the terebinth, I stretched out my branches. My branches are glorious and graceful. 17Like the vine, I put forth grace. My flowers are the fruit of glory and riches. 18“Come to me, all you who desire me, and be filled with my fruits. 19For my memory is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance than the honeycomb. 20Those who eat me will be hungry for more. Those who drink me will be thirsty for more. 21He who obeys me will not be ashamed. Those who work with me will not sin.” 22All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob. 23It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits. 24He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest, 25who makes instruction shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage. 26The first man didn’t know her perfectly. In like manner, the last has not explored her. 27For her thoughts are filled from the sea, and her counsels from the great deep. 28I came out as a canal stream from a river, and as an irrigation ditch into a garden. 29I said, “I will water my garden, and will drench my garden bed.” Behold, my stream became a river, and my river became a sea. 30I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning, and will make these things clear from far away. 31I will continue to pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all generations. 32See that I have not labored for myself only, but for all those who diligently seek wisdom.