Sirach 24:11-20

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

¹¹ And by my power I have trodden under my feet the hearts of all the high and low: and in all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord.

¹² Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle,

¹³ And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect.

¹⁴ From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.

¹⁵ And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints.

¹⁷ I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on mount Sion.

¹⁸ I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho:

¹⁹ As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted.

²⁰ I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon. and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh: