Sirach 1

¹All wisdom is from the Lord God, and has always been with him, and is before all time.

²Who has numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of the rain, and the days of the world? Who has measured the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss?

³Who has examined the wisdom of God, which precedes all things?

⁴Wisdom was created before all things, and the understanding of prudence is before all time.

⁵The Word of God on high is the source of wisdom, whose steps are eternal commandments.

⁶To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed, and who has recognized her astuteness?

⁷To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made manifest? And who has understood the multiplicity of her steps?

⁸The most high omnipotent Creator is One, and he is the mighty King, and he is exceedingly to be feared, sitting upon his throne, and he is the sovereign God.

⁹He created wisdom through the Holy Spirit, and he saw her, and numbered her, and measured her.

¹⁰And he poured her over all his works, and over all flesh, to the extent of his favor, and he has offered her to those who love him.

¹¹The fear of the Lord is glory, and honor, and rejoicing, and a crown of exultation.

¹²The fear of the Lord will delight the heart, and will give joy and gladness and length of days.

¹³It will be well, in the very end, for him who fears the Lord, and on the day that he passes away, he will be blessed.

¹⁴The love of God is honorable wisdom.

¹⁵And those to whom she will appear for their consideration love her because of what they see and know of her great works.

¹⁶The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created with the faithful in the womb, and walks with elect women, and is known by the just and the faithful.

¹⁷The fear of the Lord is the sanctity of knowledge.

¹⁸Sanctity will guard and justify the heart, and will bestow happiness and joy.

¹⁹It will be well with him who fears the Lord, and at the consummation of his days, he will be blessed.

²⁰To fear God is the fullness of wisdom, and it is a fullness from its fruits.

²¹She will fill her entire house from her offspring, and storehouses from her treasures.

²²The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, the completion of peace, and the fruit of salvation.

²³And the fear of the Lord has seen and numbered wisdom; but both are gifts of God.

²⁴Wisdom will distribute knowledge and an understanding of prudence; and she lifts up the glory of those who hold to her.

²⁵The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and its branches are long-lived.

²⁶In the treasures of wisdom is understanding and the sanctity of knowledge. But to sinners, wisdom is an abomination.

²⁷The fear of the Lord expels sin.

²⁸For he who is without fear is not able to be justified. For the disposition of his spirit is his undoing.

²⁹Those who are patient will suffer for a brief time, and afterwards, happiness will return.

³⁰A noble mind will hide his words for a brief time, and then the lips of many will declare his understanding.

³¹Among the treasures of wisdom is the outward sign of discipline.

³²But to those who sin, the worship of God is an abomination.

³³Son, if you desire wisdom, observe justice, and then God will offer her to you.

³⁴For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline.

³⁵And what pleases him is faith and meekness. And so shall he complete his treasures.

³⁶You should not be incredulous to the fear of the Lord. And you should not draw close to him with a duplicitous heart.

³⁷You should not be a hypocrite in the sight of men. And you should not scandalize with your lips.

³⁸Attend to these things, otherwise you may fall and bring dishonor to your soul.

³⁹And then God may uncover your secrets, and he may cast you down forcefully in the midst of the congregation.

⁴⁰For you drew near to the Lord wickedly, and your heart was filled with deceit and falseness.

Sirach 1

¹All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever.

²Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?

³Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom?

⁴Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.

⁵The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments.

⁶To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? or who hath known her wise counsels?

⁷Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who hath understood her great experience?

⁸There is one wise and greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting upon his throne.

⁹He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works.

¹⁰She is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath given her to them that love him.

¹¹The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.

¹²The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness, and a long life.

¹³Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favour in the day of his death.

¹⁴To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb.

¹⁵She hath built an everlasting foundation with men, and she shall continue with their seed.

¹⁶To fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with her fruits.

¹⁷She filleth all their house with things desirable, and the garners with her increase.

¹⁸The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.

¹⁹Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding standing, and exalteth them to honour that hold her fast.

²⁰The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches thereof are long life.

²¹The fear of the Lord driveth away sins: and where it is present, it turneth away wrath.

²²A furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.

²³A patient man will tear for a time, and afterward joy shall spring up unto him.

²⁴He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.

²⁵The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.

²⁶If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto thee.

²⁷For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are his delight.

²⁸Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double heart.

²⁹Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.

³⁰Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.