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32 But the one who knows all things knows her;
    he has probed her by his knowledge—
The one who established the earth for all time,
    and filled it with four-footed animals,
33 Who sends out the lightning, and it goes,
    calls it, and trembling it obeys him;
34 Before whom the stars at their posts
    shine and rejoice.
35 When he calls them, they answer, “Here we are!”
    shining with joy for their Maker.(A)
36 Such is our God;
    no other is to be compared to him:

C. Wisdom Contained in the Law

37 [a]He has uncovered the whole way of understanding,
    and has given her to Jacob, his servant,
    to Israel, his beloved.(B)

38 Thus she has appeared on earth,
    is at home with mortals.(C)

Chapter 4

[b]She is the book of the precepts of God,
    the law that endures forever;
All who cling to her will live,
    but those will die who forsake her.(D)
Turn, O Jacob, and receive her:
    walk by her light toward splendor.(E)
Do not give your glory to another,
    your privileges to an alien nation.
Blessed are we, O Israel;
    for what pleases God is known to us!(F)

Footnotes

  1. 3:37–38 As in Sir 24:8, Wisdom is given to Israel but also is said to live with all human beings (Prv 8:31).
  2. 4:1–4 The poem ends with the identification of Wisdom and Torah, as in Sir 24:22–23; cf. also Dt 4:5–8.