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The Activity of the Scribe

39 On the other hand he who devotes himself
    to the study of the law of the Most High
will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients,
    and will be concerned with prophecies;
he will preserve the discourse of notable men
    and penetrate the subtleties of parables;
he will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs
    and be at home with the obscurities of parables.
He will serve among great men
    and appear before rulers;
he will travel through the lands of foreign nations,
    for he tests the good and the evil among men.
He will set his heart to rise early
    to seek the Lord who made him,
    and will make supplication before the Most High;
he will open his mouth in prayer
    and make supplication for his sins.

If the great Lord is willing,
    he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
he will pour forth words[a] of wisdom
    and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright,
    and meditate on his secrets.
He will reveal instruction in his teaching,
    and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
Many will praise his understanding,
    and it will never be blotted out;
his memory will not disappear,
    and his name will live through all generations.
10 Nations will declare his wisdom,
    and the congregation will proclaim his praise;
11 if he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand,
    and if he goes to rest, it is enough[b] for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Sirach 39:6 Other authorities read his words
  2. Sirach 39:11 Cn: the meaning of the Greek is uncertain

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