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The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 36 -

A prayer for the church of God. Of a good heart, and a good wife.

1
Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the light of thy mercies:
2
And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that they may shew forth thy wonders.
3
Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy power.
4
For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou shalt be magnified among them in our presence,
5
That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there is no God beside thee, O Lord.
6
Renew thy signs, and work new miracles.
7
Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm.
8
Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath.
9
Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy.
10
Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy wonderful works.
11
Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and let them perish that oppress thy people.
12
Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is no other beside us.
13
Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that there is no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou shalt inherit them as from the beginning.
14
Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and upon Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn.
15
Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, the city of thy rest.
16
Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy glory.
17
Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in thy name.
18
Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants,
19
According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, that thou art God the beholder of all ages.
20
The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another.
21
The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches.
22
A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.
23
A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than another.
24
The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, and a man desireth nothing more.
25
If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.
26
He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.
27
Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.
28
Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that skippeth from city to city.

A prayer for the church of God. Of a good heart, and a good wife.

1
Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and look at us with favor;
2
and send your fear upon all the nations.(a)
3
Lift up your hand against the foreign nations and let them see your mighty power.
4
As you showed your holiness in us before them, so be magnified in them before us.
5
Let them know you, as we also have known you, that there is no God but only you, O God.
6
Show new signs, and work various wonders. Glorify your hand and your right arm.(b)
7
Raise up indignation and pour out wrath. Take away the adversary and destroy the enemy.
8
Hasten the time and remember your oath. Let them declare your mighty works.
9
Let him who escapes be devoured by raging fire. May those who harm your people find destruction.
10
Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”
11
Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and(c) take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.
12
O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name, and upon Israel, whom you likened to a firstborn.
13
Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of your rest.
14
Fill Zion. Exalt your oracles and fill your people with your glory.
15
Give testimony to those who were your creatures in the beginning, and fulfill the prophecies that have been spoken in your name.
16
Reward those who wait for you, and men will put their trust in your prophets.
17
Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of your servants, according to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people; and all those who are on the earth will know that you are the Lord, the(d) eternal God.
18
The belly will eat any food, but one food is better than another.
19
The mouth tastes meats taken in hunting, so does an understanding heart detect false speech.
20
A contrary heart will cause heaviness. A man of experience will pay him back.
21
A woman will receive any man, but one daughter is better than another.
22
The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance. A man desires nothing more.
23
If kindness and humility are on her tongue, her husband is not like other sons of men.
24
He who gets a wife gets his richest treasure, a help meet for him and a pillar of support.
25
Where no hedge is, the property will be plundered. He who has no wife will mourn as he wanders.
26
For who would trust a nimble robber who skips from city to city? Even so, who would trust a man who has no nest, and lodges wherever he finds himself at nightfall?

Footnotes

(a)36:2 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
(b)36:6 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
(c)36:11 The ancient authorities read I took them for my inheritance:but the Greek text is here very confused.
(d)36:17 Gr. God of the ages.
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