Sirach 43

¹ {cf2 This high ornament the cleare firmament, the beautie of the heauen so glorious to beholde,}

² {cf2 The sunne also, a marueilous instrument when it appeareth, declareth, at his going out, the worke of the most High.}

³ {cf2 At noone it burneth the countrey, and who may abide for the heate thereof?}

⁴ {cf2 The sunne burneth the mountaines three times more then hee that keepeth a fornace with continuall heate: it casteth out the fierie vapours, and with the shining beames blindeth the eyes.}

⁵ {cf2 Great is the Lorde that made it, and by his commandement he causeth it to runne hastily.}

⁶ {cf2 The moone also hath hee made to appeare according to her season, that it should be a declaration of the time, and a signe for the world.}

⁷ {cf2 The feastes are appointed by the moone: the light thereof diminisheth vnto the ende.}

⁸ {cf2 The moneth is called after the name thereof, and groweth wonderously in her changing.}

⁹ {cf2 It is a campe pitched on high, shining in the firmament of heauen: the beautie of heauen are the glorious starres, and the ornament that shineth in the high places of the Lord.}

¹⁰ {cf2 By the comandement of the Holy one they continue in their order, & faile not in their watch.}

¹¹ {cf2 Looke vpon the raine bowe, and prayse him that made it: very beautifull is it in the brightnes thereof.}

¹² {cf2 It compasseth the heauen about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High haue bended it.}

¹³ {cf2 Through his commandement he maketh the snowe to haste, and sendeth swiftly the lightning of his iudgement.}

¹⁴ {cf2 Therefore he openeth his treasures, and the cloudes flie forth as the foules.}

¹⁵ {cf2 In his power hath he strengthened ye clouds, and broken the hailestones.}

¹⁶ {cf2 The mountaines leape at the sight of him: the South winde bloweth according to his will.}

¹⁷ {cf2 The sound of his thunder beateth the earth: so doeth the storme of the North: the whirlewinde also, as birds that flie, scattereth the snowe, and the falling downe thereof is as the grashoppers that light downe.}

¹⁸ {cf2 The eye marueileth at the beautie of the whitenes thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raine of it.}

¹⁹ {cf2 He also powreth out the frost vpon ye earth like salte, and when it is frosen, it sticketh on the tops of pales.}

²⁰ {cf2 When the colde North winde bloweth, an yce is frosen of the water, it abideth vpon all the gatherings together of water, and clotheth the waters as with a brestplate.}

²¹ {cf2 It deuoureth the mountaines, & burneth the wildernes, & destroyeth that that is greene, like fire.}

²² {cf2 The remedie of all these is when a cloude commeth hastily, and when a dewe commeth vpon the heate, it refresheth it.}

²³ {cf2 By his worde he stilleth the winde: by his counsell he appeaseth the deepe, & planteth ylands therein.}

²⁴ {cf2 They that saile ouer the sea, tell of the perils thereof, and when we heare it with our eares, we marueile thereat.}

²⁵ {cf2 For there be strange, & wonderous workes, diuers maner of beasts, and the creation of whales.}

²⁶ {cf2 Through him are all things directed to a good end, and are stablished by his worde.}

²⁷ {cf2 And when we haue spoken much, we cannot attaine vnto them: but this is the summe of all, that he is all.}

²⁸ {cf2 What power haue we to prayse him: for he is aboue all his workes?}

²⁹ {cf2 The Lord is terrible, and very great, and marueilous is his power.}

³⁰ {cf2 Prayse the Lord, and magnifie him as much as ye can, yet doeth hee farre exceede: exalt him with all your power, and be not wearie, yet can ye not attaine vnto it.}

³¹ {cf2 Who hath seene him, that he might tel vs? and who can magnifie him as he is?}

³² {cf2 For there are hid yet greater things then these be, & we haue seene but a fewe of his workes.}

³³ {cf2 For the Lord hath made all things, & giuen wisdome to such as feare God.}