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1They seek out the wisdom of all the ancients[#Josh 1.8; Ps 1.2; 119.97; Sir 44.3]
and are concerned with prophecies;
2they preserve the sayings of the famous
and penetrate the subtleties of parables;
3they seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs[#Sir 6.35; 47.15]
and are at home with the obscurities of parables.
4They serve among the great[#Eccl 1.13; 7.25; Sir 11.1; 34.11]
and appear before rulers;
they travel in foreign nations
and learn what is good and evil in the human lot.
5They set their hearts to rise early[#Sir 32.14]
to seek the Lord who made them
and to petition the Most High;
they open their mouths in prayer
and ask pardon for their sins.
6If the great Lord is willing,[#Wis 7.7; Sir 18.29; Jas 1.5]
they will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
they will pour forth words of wisdom of their own
and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
7The Lord will direct their counsel and knowledge[#Ps 25.14; #39.7 Gk He himself]
as they meditate on his mysteries.
8They will show the discipline of their training
and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
9Many will praise their understanding;[#Sir 44.13]
it will never be blotted out.
Their memory will not disappear,
and their names will live through all generations.
10Nations will speak of their wisdom,[#Sir 44.15]
and the congregation will proclaim their praise.
11If they live long, they will leave a name greater than a thousand,
and if they go to rest, it is enough for them.
12I have more on my mind to express;
I am full like the full moon.
13Listen to me, my faithful children, and blossom[#Sir 24.14; 50.8]
like a rose growing by a stream of water.
14Send out fragrance like incense[#Sir 50.8]
and put forth blossoms like a lily.
Raise your voice and sing a hymn of praise;
bless the Lord for all his works.
15Ascribe majesty to his name[#Ps 98.5; 147.7]
and give thanks to him with praise,
with songs on your lips and with harps;
this is what you shall say in thanksgiving:
16“All the works of the Lord are very good,[#v 33 ; Gen 1.31; Num 23.19]
and whatever he commands will be done at the appointed time.
17No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—[#v 21 ; Ex 14.29; Ps 33.7; 147.18; Rom 9.20]
for at the appointed time everything will be made known.
At his word the waters stood in a heap
and the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.
18At his command, his purpose is fulfilled,[#Ps 135.6; 147.15]
and none can limit his saving power.
19The works of all are before him,[#Sir 15.19; Heb 4.13]
and nothing can be hidden from his eyes.
20From age to age he observes all,
and nothing is too marvelous for him.
21No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—[#v 17 ; Rom 9.20]
for everything has been created for its own purpose.
22“His blessing covers the dry land like a river
and drenches it like a flood.
23The nations will inherit his wrath,
as when he turned a watered land into salt.
24To the faithful his ways are straight[#Hos 14.9]
but full of pitfalls for the lawless.
25From the beginning good things were created for the good[#Sir 40.10]
but for sinners good things and bad.
26The basic necessities of human life[#Gen 49.11; Deut 32.14; Sir 29.21; 50.15]
are water and fire and iron and salt
and wheat flour and milk and honey,
the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.
27All these are good for the godly,[#Rom 8.28; 1 Tim 4.4]
but for sinners they turn into evils.
28“There are winds created for vengeance,[#Ps 148.8]
and in their anger they can dislodge mountains;
on the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength
and calm the anger of their Maker.
29Fire and hail and famine and pestilence—[#Ps 148.8; Sir 40.9, 10]
all these have been created for vengeance;
30the fangs of wild animals and scorpions and vipers[#Deut 8.15; 32.24]
and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction.
31They take delight in doing his bidding,[#Ps 147.15–18; 148.8]
always ready for his service on earth,
and when their time comes they never disobey his command.”
32So from the beginning I have been steadfast
and have thought it out and left it in writing:
33All the works of the Lord are good,[#v 16 ; Gen 1.31]
and he will supply every need in its time.
34No one can say, “This is not as good as that,”[#Eccl 7.10]
for everything proves good in its appointed time.
35So now sing praise with all your heart and voice,
and bless the name of the Lord.