The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Book of Ecclesiasticus
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Chapter 39
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But the wise man will be learning the lore of former times; the prophets will be his study.
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The tradition handed down by famous men will be in his keeping; his to con the niceties of every parable,
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learn the hidden meaning of every proverb, make himself acquainted with sayings hard to understand.
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To great men he will render good service, will be summoned to the prince’s own council;
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will go upon his travels in foreign countries, to learn by experience what the world offers of good and of harm.
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With dedicated heart, he will keep early vigil at the Lord’s gates, the Lord that made him, to win audience for his plea from the most High.
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His lips will be eloquent in prayer, as he entreats pardon for his sins.
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At the Lord’s sovereign pleasure, he will be filled with a spirit of discernment,
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so that he pours out showers of wise utterance, giving thanks to the Lord in his prayer.
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His plans and thoughts guided from above, he will have skill in the divine mysteries;
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will make known to all the tradition of teaching he has received, and take pride in that law which is the Lord’s covenant with man.
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This wisdom of his, extolled on every side, will never fall into oblivion;
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the memory of him, the renown of him, will be held in honour from age to age.
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His wise words will become a legend among the nations; where faithful men assemble, his praise will be told.
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A life that shall leave such fame as one man wins in a thousand; a death not unrewarded.

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And still I have thoughts worth the telling; madman as easily might contain himself.
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A voice proclaims, Give heed to me, you that are scions of the divine stock; yours to burgeon like a rose-bush that is planted by running water;
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yours to yield the fragrance of incense;
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yours to blossom like the lily, and smell sweet, and put forth leaves for your adornment; yours to sing songs of praise, and bless the Lord for all things he has made.
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His name extol; songs of praise let your lips utter, and let harp’s melody mingle with the song. And you shall praise him in these words following.

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Good, wondrously good, is all the Lord has made.
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Piled high the waters stand at his command, shut in by cisterns of his appointing.
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All-sufficient is his will, unfailing his power to save;
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open to his view are all deeds of mortal men, nothing can escape that scrutiny.
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On every age of time his glance rests; marvel is none beyond his compass.
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Not for man to ask what this or that may be, each shall be needed in its turn.
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His blessings flow like a stream in full flood,
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like rain pouring down to refresh the parched earth. But the nations that never look to find him, shall be the prey of his vengeance;
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did he not turn the waters into firm ground, and dry up the floor of them, so that it made a path for the passage of his own people, and yet a trap to punish the wicked?

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From the first, good things were made for good men to enjoy; for sinners, they are good and evil at once.
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What are the first needs of man’s life? Water, fire, iron, salt, milk, wheat-meal, honey, the grape-cluster, oil and clothing.
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Thereby, for just men, nought but good is intended, yet for sinners they turn to evil.
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Some powers there be that are created for wreaking of vengeance, and sternly they wield the lash in their raging;
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when the time for reckoning comes, they will put out all their force, until their Maker’s anger is appeased.
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Fire, hail, hunger and death, all these were made for wreaking of vengeance;
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ravening beasts, too, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword that punishes the wicked till there are none left.
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All these hold high revel as they perform his will; ready they stand till earth has need of them, and when the need comes, they will obey.

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From the first, all my questioning and all my thought confirms me in what I have written,
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all things God has made are good, and each of them serves its turn;
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nor ever must we complain things have happened for the worse, since each has its own occasion to justify it.
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With full hearts, then, and full voice, praise we and bless the Lord’s name.