Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

1All wisdom is from the Lord, and is with him forever.

ኵሉ ጥበብ እምእግዚአብሔር ውእቱ ወምስሌሁ ውእቱ ለዓለም።

2The sands of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity, who can count them?

3The height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss, who can estimate?

4But exceeding the scope of these is wisdom, and truth is broader still.

5To whom shall the root of wisdom be revealed (uncovered), and who knows her wiles (nakednesses).

6He is uniquely awesome, God is executor of all of her treasuries.

7He scrutinized her and examined her and counted her, and he gave her to his lovers.

8Unto all flesh he gave her according to his desire, and he will give her to his lovers.

11The fear of the Lord is glory and honor, and greatness and a crown of splendor.

12The fear of the Lord gladdens the heart, and grants joy, and grace, and length of days.

13Fear the Lord and do good by Him, and at the end of your days he will bless you.

14The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and for the faithful it gestates in the belly.

15From eternity it has been prepared for those who have integrity, and His grace is faithful to their offspring.

16The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and it increases peace, life, and wellbeing.

17All her treasuries will be filled to satisfaction, and her granaries with her satiation.

18The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, she will intoxicate with her ample satiation.

19She is a strong and reliable rod, praise and eternal glory unto those that follow her.

20Her roots are eternal, and her branches are ever-reaching.

21Happy is the person who meditates on her, and she benefits them more than any other treasury.

22Happy is the person who draws close to her, and those in her presence enjoy themselves.

23She will crown them with an eternal diadem, and eternal merit among holy ones.

24They will rejoice in her and she in them, and she will never ever abandon them.

25Angels of God will rejoice in her, and recount all the praises of the Lord.

26And this recounting is entirely replete with her, happy is the one who attends and acts.

27Hearken unto me fearers of God, listen and understand my words. The one who is steadfast in receiving her, has an eternal inheritance and great joy.

28Attend to and act upon all my words, that you may be written in the book of life.

29Love the fear of the Lord, that your heart may be happy and do not fear.

30Draw near and do not distance yourself, that your soul may live. And in your drawing near, be like a hero and a warrior.

31My child, do not fail in fearing the Lord, and do not approach God with attention divided (lit. a heart and a heart).

32Give no weight to human regard, and be most careful with your speech.

33Do not alter God's word and have no fear, lest you bring a curse on your soul.

34For the Lord reveal your secrets, and bring your downfall in the midst of the community.

35For you exalted yourself with feigned piety, but within your heart is full of shame.