Book 26 Ecclesiasticus (continued 1)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
38:28. So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.
38:29. So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.
38:30. The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh.
38:31. He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them to perfection.
38:32. So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:
38:33. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:
38:34. He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.
38:35. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.
38:36. Without these a city is not built.
38:37. And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.
38:38. Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:
38:39. But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 39
The exercises of the wise man. The Lord is to be glorified for his works.
39:1. The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.
39:2. He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.
39:3. He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.
39:4. He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor.
39:5. He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.
39:6. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.
39:7. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.
39:8. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:
39:9. And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.
39:10. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
39:11. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
39:12. Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.
39:13. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.
39:14. Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.
39:15. If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.
39:16. I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.
39:17. By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.
Ye divine offspring... He speaks to the children of Israel, the people of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue.
39:18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.
39:19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
39:20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:
39:21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.
39:22. At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:
39:23. For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.
39:24. The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.
39:25. He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.