Sirach 43
The passage describes the beauty and wonder of God's creation, including the sun, moon, stars, and natural phenomena such as snow, hail, and frost. It highlights the power and majesty of God, who controls the forces of nature and has created all things. The passage concludes by acknowledging the limitations of human understanding and the infinite greatness of God, encouraging readers to glorify and praise Him as much as possible.
The firmament on high is his beauty; it is the beauty of heaven in a vision of gloryThe sun, at its appearance, announces its journey; it is an instrument of wonder, a work of the Most HighAt midday, it scorches the earth. And in the presence of its heat, who would be able to endure? It is like the custodian of a furnace in its works of heatIn three ways, the sun acts: scorching the mountains, emitting fiery rays, and shining with its beams that can blind the eyesGreat is the Lord who made it, and at his word, it hurries on its journeyAnd the moon, in all its phases, serves to mark the seasons and to be a sign of the timesFrom the moon is the sign of a feast day; it is a light which diminishes at its consummationA month is named according to its phases, increasing wonderfully at its culminationIt is an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heavenThe glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord illuminates the world from on highAt the words of the Holy One, they stand for judgment, and they will never fail in their vigilanceConsider the rainbow, and bless the One who made it; it is very beautiful in its splendorIt encompasses the heavens with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High made it appearBy his order, he hastens the snow, and he spurs on the lightning to express his judgmentIn like manner, his storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birdsBy his greatness, he has positioned the clouds, and the hailstones have been brokenAt his glance, the mountains will be shaken, and by his will, the south wind will blowThe voice of his thunder will reverberate through the earth, by a storm from the north, and by a gathering of the whirlwindAnd like the birds landing in a flock upon the earth, he sends down the snow; and its descent is like the arrival of a swarm of locustsThe eye is in wonder at the beauty of its whiteness, and the heart is astonished at its fallingHe will pour out frost like salt upon the earth. And when it freezes, it will become like the tops of thistlesThe cold north wind blows, and the water freezes into crystals; it will rest upon every gathering of water, and it will clothe the water like a breastplateAnd it will devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and extinguish the greenery, like a fireRelief for all is in the hurried arrival of a cloud. And the lowly dew will arrive to meet the heat and overpower itAt his word, the wind grows quiet, and by his thought, he appeases the abyss, for the Lord has planted islands in itLet those who navigate the sea describe its perils. And when we have heard it with our ears, we will wonderThere are illustrious and wondrous works: the various kinds of wild animals, and all manner of cattle, and the great creatures of the seaThrough him, the end of their journey is confirmed, and by his word, all things fit togetherWe can say much, and yet still lack for words. But the consummation of our words is this: He is in all thingsWhat would we be able to do to glorify him? For the Almighty himself is above all his own worksThe Lord is terrible, and exceedingly great, and his power is wonderfulGlorify the Lord as much as you are able, yet still he will far exceed this. For his magnificence is beyond wonderBless the Lord and exalt him, as much as you are able. But he is beyond all praiseWhen you exalt him, use all your ability, and do not cease in this labor. For you can never comprehend himWho will see him and explain? And who will magnify him, as he is from the beginningThere are many things, hidden from us, which are greater than these things. For we have seen but a few of his worksBut the Lord has made all things, and he has given wisdom to those who act with piety
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