Sirach 24
Wisdom praises herself, saying she was created by God before the world and will continue to exist forever. She describes her presence in the world, saying she has walked on the waves of the sea, stood on the earth, and has been present in every nation. God instructed her to dwell with Jacob and Israel, and she took root among the elect, finding rest in Zion and Jerusalem. Wisdom describes her beauty and fragrance, saying she is the mother of love, fear, knowledge, and holy hope, and that all who desire her will be filled by her harvest. She invites all to come to her, saying her spirit is sweeter than honey and her inheritance is better than honey.
Wisdom will praise her own mind, and she will be honored by God, and she will be glorified in the midst of her peopleAnd she will open her mouth in the churches of the Most High, and she will be glorified in the sight of his virtueAnd in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assemblyAnd she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say"I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creaturesI caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloudI lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloudI alone have encompassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated to the depths of the abyss, and have walked upon the waves of the seaand have stood upon the whole earth. And among every peopleand in every nation, I have held primacyAnd by virtue, I have tread upon the hearts of all, the great and the lowly. And I have sought my rest in all of them. And I will continue, as the inheritance of the LordThen the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacleAnd he said to me: ‘Let your dwelling place be with Jacob, and let your inheritance be in Israel, for you shall take root among my elect.From the beginning, and before the world, I was created. And even unto the future world, I will not cease to exist. For I have ministered before him in the holy habitationAnd in this way, I was established in Zion. And likewise, in the holy city, I found rest. And my authority was in JerusalemAnd I took root among an honorable people, within the portion of my God, within his inheritance. And so my abode is in the full assembly of the saintsI was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount ZionI was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in JerichoI was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide roadI gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrhAnd I perfumed my dwelling place with sweet gum, and aromatic resin, and flower petals, and aloe, as well as the finest cedar from Lebanon. And my fragrance is like undiluted balsamI have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and graceLike the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrityI am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hopeAll grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in meJourney toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvestFor my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycombMy memory is for the generations of all agesWhoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst stillWhoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sinWhoever elucidates me will have eternal life.All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truthMoses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to IsraelGod appointed David as his servant, in order to raise up from him a most mighty King, who would sit upon the throne of honor foreverIt is he who fulfills wisdom, like the Phison river and the Tigris river in the first daysIt is he who fulfills understanding, like the river Euphrates. It is he who multiplies understanding, like the river Jordan in the time of the harvestHe sends forth discipline like the light, and he stands forth like the river Gehon in the time of the vintageHe first had perfect knowledge of her, for a weaker one would not search for herFor her thoughts abound like the sea, and her counsels abound like the great abyss"I, wisdom, have poured forth riversI am like a brook leading to a river of immense waters. I am like a channel flowing from a river. And I went forth from Paradise like an aqueductI said: I will irrigate my garden of plantings, and I will thoroughly water the fruits of my fieldAnd behold, my brook became overflowing, and my river drew near to the seaFor I illuminate doctrine to all, like the first light. And I will announce doctrine, even to those who are far awayI will reach to all the lower parts of the earth, and I will gaze upon all who sleep, and I will illuminate all who hope in the LordEven now, I pour forth doctrine like prophecy. And even now, I bequeath doctrine to those who seek wisdom. And I will not cease from their progeny, even unto the holy timeSee how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking truth!
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