Sirach 1_2 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

Only the Lord Can Give Wisdom

¹ Only the Lord can give Wisdom, and his Wisdom lasts forever.

² And who but the Lord can count the raindrops or the days in eternity or the sand on the seashore?

³ And who else can measure the height of heaven or the width of the earth or the depth of the sea?

⁴ The Lord created Wisdom long before anything else.

⁵ The Wisdom in God's commands flows from his word in heaven like streams from a spring.

⁶ Who can understand the deep thoughts of Wisdom or how clever she is?

⁷ Can anyone be taught all of her knowledge? Can anyone understand how much she has learned?

⁸ Only the Lord is that wise; he is fearsome and majestic as he rules from his throne.

⁹ The Lord created Wisdom and watched her grow, then he gave her to his creation—

¹⁰ to every living thing— but especially to those people who love him.

¹¹ If you fear the Lord, you will be proud of the honors you receive, and you will wear happiness like a crown.

¹² And if you fear him, your life will be long and filled with joy.

¹³ You will die happy, blessed by the Lord on the day of your death.

¹⁴ Respect and obey the Lord— that's where Wisdom begins, and she will stay with faithful people from the day of their birth.

¹⁵ She has lived among us humans since the beginning of time, and she will never desert our descendants.

¹⁶ Respect and obey the Lord— this is complete Wisdom. Be drunk on the wine of Wisdom,

¹⁷ and let her fill your house and your barns with the harvest she brings.

¹⁸ Wisdom will give you respect for the Lord, to be worn like a crown woven from the flowers of peace and good health.

¹⁹ Hold on to Wisdom, and she will honor you by sending knowledge and complete understanding like showers of rain.

²⁰ Wisdom is like a tree— at its root is respect for the Lord, and its branches represent a long lifetime.

²¹ Fear of the Lord forces sin and anger out of your life.

²² It is never right to be angry without a good reason, because anger will start you down the path to disaster.

²³ Just be patient and stay calm until your anger fades.

²⁴ Then when the time is right you can speak, and others will tell of your good sense.

Be Faithful to the Lord

²⁵ Wisdom collects wise sayings, but faithfulness to God is disgusting to a sinner.

²⁶ If you want lots of Wisdom from the Lord, then obey his commands.

²⁷ Respect and obey the Lord, and you will learn Wisdom; be faithful and humble, and he will be pleased.

²⁸ Faithfully obey the Lord and worship him with all your heart.

²⁹ Others are watching you, so be careful— don't say one thing and then do something else.

³⁰ If you boast and then fail, you will be disgraced. And if you only pretend to worship the Lord, he will bring you down and show everyone that you are a fake.