Where do I draw strength? The Book of Sirach Wisdom comes from God • 1 All wisdom comes from the Lord and endures with him forever. 2 The grains of sand, the drops of rain and the days of eternity, who can count them? 3 The height of heaven, the extent of the earth and the depths of the abyss, who can measure them? 4 Wisdom was created before all things and the prudent intellect before the beginning of time. 6 To whom was the source of Wisdom revealed? Who has known her secret de- signs? 8 One alone is wise and greatly to be feared. The One who is seated upon his throne. 9 The Lord himself created Wisdom. He looked on her and knew her value. He poured her out over all his works; 10 upon all mortal beings, in accordance with his goodness. He lavished her on those who love him. 11 The fear of the Lord is our glory and honor, it is joy and a triumphant crown. 12 The fear of the Lord gladdens the heart; it gives joy, gaiety and long life. 13 For the one who fears the Lord all will go well at the end of his life, and he will be blessed on the day of his death. 14 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; he put wisdom into the hearts of his faithful ones before their birth. 15 Founded from eternity she has made her home among people and she will remain faithful to their descendants. 16 The fear of the Lord is the fullness of wisdom. It will fill you with its fruits. 17 It will fill your whole house with desirable things. It will fill your houses with its riches. 18 The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom. 19 Wherever it is, peace and good health flourish; knowledge and prudence rain down. Wisdom exalts those who possess her. 20 The fear of the Lord is the root of wis- dom. Its branches are long life. 22 Unjust violence cannot be justified, it will destroy itself by its own excesses. 23 The patient man will hold out until the appointed time; but finally joy will be given to him. 24 He will guard his words until the ap- pointed time and in the end many will recog- nize his worth. 25 Proverbs rich in content are among wis- dom’s treasures but the sinner does not want to know about God. 26 Do you desire wisdom? Keep the com- mandments and the Lord will give her to you without measure; 27 for fear of the Lord is wisdom and learning; what pleases him is faithfulness and gentleness. 28 Do not put aside fear of the Lord; ap- proach him with a sincere heart. 29 Do not be a hypocrite before others; watch well your words. 30 Do not praise yourself lest you fall and bring dishonor on yourself. For the Lord will reveal your secrets and throw you to one side in the midst of the assembly, if you have no fear of the Lord and your heart is full of deceit. Fear God in time of trials • 1 My son, if you have decided to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials. 2 Keep your heart upright and remain resolute; do not be upset in the time of adversity. 3 Hold fast to the Lord, do not separ- ate yourself from him so that you may be successful to the end of your days. 4 Accept all that happens to you, be patient when you are humbled, for as 5 gold is tested in the fire, so those ac- ceptable to God are tested in the cru- cible of humiliation. Have confidence 6 in him and he will take care of you; follow the right path and hope in him. 7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy and do not turn away lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust him 8 and you will not lose your reward. You 9 who fear the Lord, hope for all good things; hope for eternal joy and mercy. 10 Remember what happened to your ancestors. Who has ever trusted in the Lord and been confounded? Who has persevered in fear of the Lord and been abandoned? Who has called upon him and not been heard? 11 For the Lord is compassion and loving-kindness; he forgives our sins and saves us in time of distress. 12 Woe to faint hearts and weak hands, to the sinner who wavers be- tween two paths. 13 Woe to the fainthearted who lack confidence, because of this they will not be protected. 14 Woe to you who have lost patience! What will you do when the Lord calls you to account? 15 Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his commandments; those who love him faithfully keep his laws. 16 Those who fear the Lord seek to please him; those who love him are filled with his law. 17 Those who fear the Lord keep their hearts ready and humble themselves in his presence saying, 18 “Let us fall into the hands of the Lord and not into the hands of mortals, for great as his power is his mercy.”
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 21:51:10 +0000
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