Sirach 43

1The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament,

the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.

2The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth,

is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High.

3At noon it parches the land;

and who can withstand its burning heat?

4A man tendinga a furnace works in burning heat,

but the sun burns the mountains three times as much;

it breathes out fiery vapors,

and with bright beams it blinds the eyes.

5Great is the Lord who made it;

and at his command it hastens on its course.

6He made the moon also, to serve in its seasonb

to mark the times and to be an everlasting sign.

7From the moon comes the sign for feast days,

a light that wanes when it has reached the full.

8The month is named for the moon,

increasing marvelously in its phases,

an instrument of the hosts on high

shining forth in the firmament of heaven.

9The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven,

a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord.

10At the command of the Holy One they stand as ordered,

they never relax in their watches.

11Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it,

exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.

12It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc;

the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.

13By his command he sends the driving snow

and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.

14Therefore the storehouses are opened,

and the clouds fly forth like birds.

15In his majesty he amasses the clouds,

and the hailstones are broken in pieces.

16At his appearing the mountains are shaken;

at his will the south wind blows.

17The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth;

so do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind.

He scatters the snow like birds flying down,

and its descent is like locusts alighting.

18The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness,

and the mind is amazed at its falling.

19He pours the hoarfrost upon the earth like salt,

and when it freezes, it becomes pointed thorns.

20The cold north wind blows,

and ice freezes over the water;

it rests upon every pool of water,

and the water puts it on like a breastplate.

21He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,

and withers the tender grass like fire.

22A mist quickly heals all things;

when the dew appears, it refreshes from the heat.

23By his counsel he stilled the great deep

and planted islands in it.

24Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,

and we marvel at what we hear.

25for in it are strange and marvelous works,

all kinds of living things, and huge creatures of the sea.

26Because of him his messenger finds the way,

and by his word all things hold together.

27Though we speak much we cannot reach the end,

and the sum of our words is: "He is the all."

28Where shall we find strength to praise him?

For he is greater than all his works.

29Terrible is the Lord and very great,

and marvelous is his power.

30When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can;

for he will surpass even that.

When you exalt him, put forth all your strength,

and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.

31Who has seen him and can describe him?

Or who can extol him as he is?

32Many things greater than these lie hidden,

for we have seen but few of his works.

33For the Lord has made all things,

and to the godly he has granted wisdom.