Sample Sirach « 36 »

36Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and behold;

2And send your fear upon all the nations: 1

3Lift up your hand against the strange nations;

And let them see your mighty power.

4As you were sanctified in us before them,

So be you magnified in them before us.

5And let them know you, as we also have known you,

That there is no God but only you, O God.

6Show new signs, and work various wonders;

Glorify your hand and your right arm. 2

7Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath;

Take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy.

8Hasten the time, and remember the oath;

And let them declare your mighty works.

9Let him that escapes be devoured by the rage of fire;

And may those who harm your people find destruction.

10Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies,

That say, There is none but we.

11Gather all the tribes of Jacob together,

And 3 take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.

12O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name,

And upon Israel, whom you did liken to a firstborn.

13Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary,

Jerusalem, the place of your rest.

14Fill Sion; exalt your oracles,

And fill your people with your glory.

15Give testimony to those that were your creatures in the beginning,

And raise up the prophecies that have been in your name.

16Give reward to those who wait for you:

And men shall put their trust in your prophets.

17Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of your suppliants,

According to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people;

And all those who are on the earth shall know

That you are the Lord, the 4 eternal God.


18The belly will eat any meat;

Yet is one meat better than another.

19The 5 mouth tastes meats taken in hunting:

So does an understanding heart false speeches.

20A contrary heart will cause heaviness:

And a man of experience will recompense him.

21A woman will receive any man;

But one daughter is better than another.

22The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance;

And a man desires nothing so much.

23If there is on her tongue mercy and meekness,

Her husband is not like the sons of men.

24He that gets a wife enters upon a possession:

A help meet for him, and a pillar of rest.

25Where no hedge is, the possession will be laid waste:

And he that has no wife will mourn as he wanders up and down.

26For who will trust a nimble robber, that skips from city to city?

Even so who shall trust a man that has no nest, and lodges wherever he finds himself at nightfall?

1 36:2 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.

2 36:6 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.

3 36:11 The ancient authorities read I took them for my inheritance: but the Greek text is here very confused.

4 36:17 Gr. God of the ages.

5 36:19 Gr. throat.