Sirach 24

1Wisdom will praise herself, and in the midst of her people she will boast.

2In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, and before his power she will boast.

3I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and like a mist I covered the earth;

4I made my dwelling in the heights, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud;

5I alone encircled the vault of heaven, and walked in the depths of the abysses.

6In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and among every people and nation, I gained possession.

7Among all these I sought a resting place, and in whose inheritance shall I lodge?

8Then the Creator of all commanded me, and the one who created me pitched my tent and said, “Dwell in Jacob, and receive your inheritance in Israel.”

9Before the age, from the beginning, he created me, and for all ages I will never cease.

10In the holy tent I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion.

11In the beloved city likewise he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my authority.

12And I took root among a glorified people, in the portion of the Lord, his inheritance.

13Like a cedar I was raised high in Lebanon, and like a cypress in the mountains of Hermon.

14Like a palm tree I was raised high on the shores, and like rose plants in Jericho; like a splendid olive tree in the plain, and I was raised high like a plane tree.

15Like cinnamon and aspalathus, I gave forth a scent of spices, and like choice myrrh I spread fragrance, like galbanum and onycha and stacte, and like the smoke of frankincense in the tabernacle.

16Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are branches of glory and grace.

17I, like a vine, put forth grace, and my blossoms are the fruit of glory and wealth.

18I am the mother of beautiful love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope;

19Come to me, you who desire me, and be filled with my fruits.

20For the memory of me is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is sweeter than the honeycomb.

21Those who eat me will still hunger, and those who drink me will still thirst.

22Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with me will not sin.

23All these things are the book of the covenant of God Most High, the law that Moses commanded as an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob.

24Do not fail in strength; cling to him, so that you may be strengthened.

25It fills with wisdom like the Pishon, and like the Tigris in the days of firstfruits.

26It fills up understanding like the Euphrates, and like the Jordan in the days of harvest;

27It makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon in the days of the grape harvest.

28The first did not finish knowing her, and likewise the last did not trace her out.

29For her understanding is more abundant than the sea, and her counsel than the great deep.

30And I, like a canal from a river, and like a water channel, went out into a garden.

31I said, ‘I will water my garden, and I will drench my garden bed.’ And behold, my channel became a river, and my river became a sea.

32I will again make instruction shine like the dawn, and I will bring these things to light far into the distance.

33Still I will pour out instruction like prophecy, and I will leave it for everlasting generations.

34See that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek her.