Ben Sira 24:30-33
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
30 Now I, like a stream from a river,[a]
and like water channeling into a garden—
31 I said, “I will water my plants,
I will drench my flower beds.”
Then suddenly this stream of mine became a river,
and this river of mine became a sea.
32 Again I will make my teachings shine forth like the dawn;
I will spread their brightness afar off.
33 Again I will pour out instruction like prophecy
and bestow it on generations yet to come.
Footnotes
- 24:30–33 Ben Sira again speaks about himself. He had at first drawn a small portion of the water of wisdom for his own private benefit, but finding it so useful, he soon began to let others share in this boon by teaching them the lessons of wisdom. Like the words of the prophets, Ben Sira’s instruction is valuable for all generations (v. 33). The comparison to prophecy is bold and unique.
Sirach 24:30-34
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
30 As for me, I was like a canal from a river,
like a water channel into a garden.
31 I said, “I will water my garden
and drench my flower-beds.”
And lo, my canal became a river,
and my river a sea.
32 I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn,
and I will make it clear from far away.
33 I will again pour out teaching like prophecy,
and leave it to all future generations.
34 Observe that I have not labored for myself alone,
but for all who seek wisdom.[a]
Footnotes
- Sirach 24:34 Gk her
Sirach 24:30-34
Good News Translation
30 As for me, I thought of myself as an irrigation canal bringing water from a river into a garden. 31 I only intended to water my orchard and flower beds, but the canal soon became a river, and the river became a sea. 32 And so I present you with my learning; I hold it high, so that its light can be seen everywhere, like that of the rising sun. 33 Like an inspired prophet, I pour out my teachings, so that future generations can benefit from them. 34 Please realize that I have not done all this hard work for myself alone, but to help anyone who wants to be wise.
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Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
