The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Book of Ecclesiasticus
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Chapter 36
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1
God of all men, have mercy on us; look down, and let us see the smile of thy favour.
2
Teach them to fear thee, those other nations that have never looked to find thee; let them learn to recognize thee as the only God, and to acclaim thy wonders.
3
Lift up thy hand, to shew these aliens thy power;
4
let us see them, as they have seen us, humbled before thee;
5
let them learn, as we have learnt, that there is no other God but thou.
6
Shew new marvels, and portents stranger still;
7
win renown for that strength, that valiant arm of thine;
8
rouse thyself to vengeance, give thy anger free play;
9
away with the oppressors, down with thy enemies!
10
Hasten on the time, do not forget thy purpose; make them acclaim thy wonders.
11
Let none of them escape their doom, the oppressors of thy people; let there be a raging fire ready to devour them;
12
heavy let the blow fall on the heads of those tyrants, that no other power will recognize but their own.
13
Gather anew all the tribes of Jacob; be it theirs to know that thou alone art God, to acclaim thy wonders; make them thy loved possession as of old.
14
Have compassion on the people that is called by thy own name, on Israel, owned thy first-born;
15
have compassion on Jerusalem, the city thou hast set apart for thy resting-place;
16
fill Sion’s walls, fill the hearts of thy people, with wonders beyond all telling come true, with thy glory made manifest.
17
Vindicate the race that was from the first thy chosen; old prophecies uttered in thy name, at last fulfil;
18
have we waited for thee to no purpose? Shall thy prophets be proved false? Listen to thy servants’ plea,
19
that claim the blessing Aaron pronounced over thy people; guide us into the right path; let all the world know that thou art God, watching us eternally.
20
Take what food thou wilt, belly is content; yet meat and meat differ.
21
The savour of venison only palate can reach; only wise heart can discern lying tongue.
22
False heart breeds dismal thoughts; mind well schooled keeps them at bay.✻
23
Any woman is a mate for any man; yet maid and maid differ.
24
Fair wife, blithe husband; as no other lure, beauty draws us.
25
What of her tongue? If that, too, has power to charm, if that is soft and gentle, never was man so blessed.
26
Good wife won is life well begun; a comforter thou hast, of thy own breed, a stay to support thee.
27
No hedge, no garden; and if wife thou hast none, thou shalt wander homeless.
28
Trust him never, that has not found a nest to dwell in, and does but lodge where night overtakes him, cut-purse that travels light from city to city.
