a man may see even to a spark.
[23] All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are
all obedient.
[24] All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.
[25] One
thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?
Sir.43
[1] The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew;
[2] The
sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most High:
[3] At
noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning heat thereof?
[4] A man blowing a furnace
is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and
sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.
[5] Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment
runneth hastily.
[6] He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign
of the world.
[7] From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.
[8] The
month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies
above, shining in the firmament of heaven;
[9] The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament
giving light in the highest places of the Lord.
[10] At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in
their order, and never faint in their watches.
[11] Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very
beautiful it is in the brightness thereof.
[12] It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and
the hands of the most High have bended it.
[13] By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall aplace,
and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.
[14] Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds
fly forth as fowls.
[15] By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones are broken small.
[16]
At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth.
[17] The noise of the thunder
maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth
the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers:
[18] The eye marvelleth at the
beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it.
[19] The hoarfrost also
as salt he poureth on the earth, and being congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.
[20] When the
cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together
of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate.
[21] It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the
wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire.
[22] A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily,
a dew coming after heat refresheth.
[23] By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands
therein.
[24] They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we
marvel thereat.
[25] For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales
created.
[26] By him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his word all things consist.
[27]
We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all.
[28] How shall we be able to magnify
him? for he is great above all his works.
[29] The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his
power.
[30] When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and
when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.
[31]
Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is?
[32] There are yet hid
greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works.
[33] For the Lord hath made all
things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.
Sir.44
[1] Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
[2] The Lord hath wrought great glory
by them through his great power from the beginning.
[3] Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men
renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
[4] Leaders of
the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent
are their instructions:
[5] Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:
[6] Rich men
furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:
[7] All these were honoured in their generations,
and were the glory of their times.
[8] There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their
praises might be reported.
[9] And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though
they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.
[10]
But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
[11] With their seed shall
continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
[12] Their seed standeth