Ecclesiasticus / Sirach - Chapter 43

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¹ Pride of the heights, a clear vault of the sky -- such is the beauty of the heavens, a glorious sight.

² The sun, as he emerges, proclaims at his rising, 'How wonderful a thing, the work of the Most High!'

³ At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?

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⁴ We have to blow the furnace to produce any heat, the sun burns the mountains three times as much; breathing out blasts of fire, flashing his rays, he dazzles the eyes.

⁵ Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.

⁶ And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:

⁷ It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being full.

⁸ The month derives its name from hers, she waxes wonderfully in her phases, banner of the hosts on high, shining in the vault of heaven.

⁹ The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.

¹⁰ At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.

¹¹ See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.

¹² Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.

¹³ By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.

¹⁴ In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.

¹⁵ His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.

¹⁶ at the sight of him, the mountains quake. At his will the south wind blows,or the storm from the north and the whirlwind.

¹⁷ At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,

¹⁸ He sprinkles snow like birds alighting, it comes down like locusts settling. The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.

¹⁹ Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.

²⁰ The cold wind blows from the north, and ice forms on the water; it forms on every piece of standing water, covering it like a breastplate.

²¹ The wind swallows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.

²² But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.

²³ By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.

²⁴ Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:

²⁵ for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.

²⁶ Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.

²⁷ We could say much more and still fall short; to put it concisely, 'He is all.'

²⁸ Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above all his works,

²⁹ the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?

³⁰ Exalt the Lord in your praises as high as you may -- still he surpasses you. Exert all your strength when you exalt him, do not grow tired -- you will never come to the end.

³¹ Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?

³² Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,

³³ the Lord himself having created all things and given wisdom to those who are devout.