Sirach 43
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Splendor of the Sun
43 The pride of the higher realms is the clear vault of the sky,
as glorious to behold as the sight of the heavens.(A)
2 The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises
what a marvelous instrument it is, the work of the Most High.(B)
3 At noon it parches the land,
and who can withstand its burning heat?(C)
4 A man tending[a] a furnace works in burning heat,
but three times as hot is the sun scorching the mountains;
when it breathes out fiery vapors
and when it shines forth its rays, it blinds the eyes.(D)
5 Great is the Lord who made it;
at his orders it hurries on its course.(E)
The Splendor of the Moon
6 It is the moon that marks the changing seasons,[b]
governing the times, an everlasting sign.(F)
7 From the moon comes the sign for festal days,
a light that wanes when it completes its course.(G)
8 The new moon, as its name suggests, renews itself;[c]
how marvelous it is in this change,
a beacon to the hosts on high
shining in the vault of the heavens!
The Glory of the Stars and the Rainbow
9 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven,
a glittering array in the heights of the Lord.(H)
10 On the orders of the Holy One they stand in their appointed places;
they never relax in their watches.(I)
11 Look at the rainbow and praise him who made it;
it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.(J)
12 It encircles the sky with its glorious arc;
the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.
The Marvels of Nature
13 By his command he sends the driving snow
and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.(K)
14 Therefore the storehouses are opened,
and the clouds fly out like birds.(L)
15 In his majesty he gives the clouds their strength,
and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
17a The voice of his thunder causes the earth to tremble;
At his will the south wind blows,(M)
He scatters the snow like birds flying down,
and its descent is like locusts alighting.(N)
18 The eye is dazzled by the beauty of its whiteness,
and the mind is amazed as it falls.
19 He pours frost over the earth like salt,
and icicles form like pointed thorns.(O)
20 The cold north wind blows,
and ice freezes on the water;
it settles on every pool of water,
and the water puts it on like a breastplate.
21 He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness
and withers the tender grass like fire.
22 A mist quickly heals all things;
the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat.(P)
23 By his plan he stilled the deep
and planted islands in it.(Q)
24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,
and we marvel at what we hear.(R)
25 In it are strange and marvelous creatures,
all kinds of living things, and mighty[d] sea monsters.(S)
26 Because of him each of his messengers succeeds,
and by his word all things hold together.(T)
27 We could say more but could never say enough;
let the final word be: “He is the all.”(U)
28 Where can we find the strength to praise him?
For he is greater than all his works.(V)
29 Awesome is the Lord and very great,
and marvelous is his power.(W)
30 Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can,
for he surpasses even that.
When you exalt him, summon all your strength,
and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.
31 Who has seen him and can describe him?
Or who can extol him as he is?(X)
32 Many things greater than these lie hidden,
for I[e] have seen but few of his works.(Y)
33 For the Lord has made all things,
and to the godly he has given wisdom.
Sirach 43
Common English Bible
43 The pride of the heights
is the clear heavenly vault,
the appearance of the sky
in a vision of glory.
2 The sun, when it appears,
announces at its rising
what an amazing thing it is,
a work of the Most High.
3 At noon it dries up the land,
and who can endure its burning heat?
4 A person blows on a furnace,
working in its burning heat,
but the sun is three times hotter
when it burns up mountains.
When it breathes out fiery vapors,
and shines forth its rays, it blinds eyes.
5 Great is the Lord who made it;
it speeds on its course by his command.
6 The moon stands at its proper time,[a]
a notification of times
and an everlasting sign.
7 The sign for a feast comes from the moon,
a luminous body that wanes
when it completes its course.
8 The new moon shares the character
of its name,[b]
increasing wonderfully as it changes,
a signal on high for armies,[c]
shining in the vault of the sky.
9 The stars’ glory is the sky’s beauty,
shining ornaments
in the heights of the Lord.
10 They stand at the words of the holy one,
just as he orders,
and they will never grow tired
as they keep watch.
11 Look at the rainbow,
exceedingly beautiful in its brightness,
and bless the one who made it.
12 It encircled the sky with a glorious ring;
the Lord’s hands stretched it out.
13 He drives the snow forward
by his command,
and he speeds the lightning bolts
of his judgment on their way.
14 To this end, the storehouses are opened,
and clouds fly out like birds.
15 In his might he subdues clouds,
and stones are broken apart for hail.
17 [d] The sound of his thunder
scolds the earth,
16 and mountains will be shaken
when he appears.
The south wind blows by his will,
17 [e] as do storms from the north
and whirlwinds.
He sprinkles the snow
like birds flying down,
and its descent is like locusts alighting.
18 The eye marvels at its beautiful whiteness,
and the heart is amazed
at its showering down.
19 He pours frost, like salt, upon the earth,
and when it freezes it has pointy thorns.
20 A cold north wind will blow,
and ice will freeze on the water;
it will settle on every pool of water,
and the water will put it on like armor.
21 He will consume mountains,
burn up the wilderness,
and extinguish grass like a fire.
22 A mist hastens the healing of all things;
the dew that appears
will give relief from the heat.
23 By his calculations, he stilled the deep,
and he planted islands in it.
24 Those who sail the sea
describe its danger,
and we are amazed at what we hear.
25 Incredible and amazing works are there,
all sorts of living things,
great sea monsters.
26 Because of him, each messenger succeeds,
and all things hold together by his word.
27 We could say many things
and never say enough.
The final word is: The Lord is “the All.”
28 Where will we find the strength
to glorify him?
For God is great beyond all his works.
29 The Lord is awesome and very great,
and his power is marvelous.
30 Glorify the Lord,
and exalt him as much as you can:
he surpasses even that.
Exalt him, increase your strength,
and don’t grow tired:
you will never say enough.
31 Who has seen him and will describe him?
Whose praises of him
will match what he really is?
32 There are many hidden things
greater than these,
for we have seen only
a few of his works.
33 The Lord made everything,
and he gave wisdom to the godly.
Footnotes
- Sirach 43:6 Heb The moon indicates the seasons
- Sirach 43:8 Heb The new moon, like its name, renews itself.
- Sirach 43:8 Heb a military beacon for the clouds on high
- Sirach 43:17 Gk scourge
- Sirach 43:16 The title appears in Gk manuscripts.
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