Sirach 1

¹Al wisdom is of the Lord God, and was euere with hym, and is bifore the world.

²Who noumbride the grauel of the see, and the dropis of reyn, and the daies of the world? Who mesuride the hiynesse of heuene, and the breed of erthe, and the depthe of the see?

³Who enserchide the wisdom of God, that goith bifore alle thingis?

⁴Wisdom was formed firste of alle thingis, and the vndurstonding of prudence, fro the world.

⁵The welle of wisdom is the sone of God in hiy thingis; and the entryng of that wisdom is euerlastynge comaundementis.

⁶To whom was the roote of wisdom schewid? and who knewe the sutilites therof?

⁷To whom was the lore of wisdom shewid, and maad opyn? and who vndurstood the multipliyng of the entryng therof?

⁸Oon is the hiyeste creatour of alle thingis, almyyti, and a myyti kyng, and worthi to be dred ful miche, sittynge on the trone of that wisdom, and God hauynge lordschipe.

⁹He fourmyde `that wisdom in the Hooli Ghost, and he siy, and noumbride, and he mesuride.

¹⁰And he schedde out it on alle hise werkis, and on ech fleisch bi his yifte; he yyueth it to hem that louen hym.

¹¹The drede of the Lord is glorie, and gloriyng, and gladnesse, and a coroun of ful out ioiyng.

¹²The drede of the Lord schal delite the herte; and schal yyue gladnesse and ioie in to lengthe of daies.

¹³To hym that dredith God, it schal be wel in the laste thingis; and he schal be blessid in the dai of his deth.

¹⁴Forsothe thei to whiche wisdom apperith in siyt, louen it in siyt, and in knowyng of hise grete thingis.

¹⁵The loue of God is onourable wisdom.

¹⁶The bigynnyng of wisdom is the drede of the Lord; and it is formyd togidere in the wombe with feithful men, and it goith with chosun wymmen, and is knowun with iust men and feithful.

¹⁷The drede of the Lord is religiouste of kunnyng.

¹⁸Religiouste schal kepe, and schal iustifie the herte; and schal yyue myrthe and ioie.

¹⁹It schal be wel to hym that dredith God; and he schal be blessid in the daies of his coumfort.

²⁰The fulnesse of wisdom is for to drede God; and fulnesse is of the fruytis therof.

²¹It schal fille ech yifte of hym of generaciouns, and reseitis of the tresouris therof.

²²The coroun of wisdom is the drede of the Lord, and fillith pees, and the fruyt of heelthe.

²³And he siy, and noumbride it; forsothe euer eithir ben the yiftis of God.

²⁴Wisdom schal departe the kunnyng and vndurstondyng of prudence; and it enhaunsith the glorie of hem, that holden it.

²⁵The roote of wisdom is for to drede God; forsothe the braunchis therof ben longe durynge.

²⁶Vndurstonding, and religiouste of kunnyng ben in the tresouris of wisdom; but wisdom is abhomynacioun to synners.

²⁷The drede of the Lord puttith awei synne,

²⁸for he that is with out drede, mai not be iustified; for whi the wrathfulnesse of his pride is the destriyng of hym.

²⁹A pacient man schal suffre til in to tyme; and aftirward schal be yelding of mirthe.

³⁰Good wit schal hide the wordis of hym til in to a tyme; and the lippis of many men schulen telle out the wit of hym.

³¹In the tresouris of wisdom is signefiyng of kunnyng;

³²but the worschipyng of God is abhomynacioun to a synnere.

³³A! sone, coueitynge wisdom, kepe thou riytfulnesse, and God schal yyue it to thee.

³⁴For whi the drede of the Lord is wisdom, and kunnyng, and that

³⁵that is wel plesaunt to hym is feith and myldenesse; and God schal fille the tressours of hym.

³⁶Be thou not rebel, and vnbileueful to the drede of the Lord; and neiye thou not to hym in double herte.

³⁷Be thou not an ypocrite in the siyt of men; and be thou not sclaundrid in thi lippis.

³⁸Take thou kepe to tho, lest thou falle, and brynge disonour to thi soule; and lest God schewe thi priuytees,

³⁹and hurtle thee doun in the myddis of the synagoge;

⁴⁰for thou neiyidist wickidli to the Lord, and thin herte was ful of gile and of falsnesse.

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.