"Bless the Lord for all His works" (Creation Hymn: Ben Sira / Sirach chapter 39)

Translation: NRSV

set forth in Walter T. Wilson (Eerdmans

Critical Commentary 2023) pages 429-30

Verses 12 - 35 in 39th Chapter

I have more on my mind to express;

I am full like the full moon.

Listen to me, my faithful children,

and blossom

like a rose growing by a stream

of water [ Dead Sea Scrolls

Hodayot IQH XIV, 14-16 ]

Scatter the fragrance, and sing

a Hymn of praise; bless the

Lord for all his works!

Ascribe majesty to his name

and give thanks to him with

praise, with songs on your

lips, and with harps;

this is what you shall say

in Thanksgiving:

All the works of the Lord are very good,

and whatever he commands will be done

at the appointed time [ Genesis, ch. 1 ].

No one can say, 'What is this?'

or "Why is that?' --

for at the appointed time all such

questions will be answered.

At his word the waters stood in a heap,

and the reservoirs of water at the word

of his mouth.

When he commands, his every purpose is

fulfilled, and none can limit his

saving power.  The works of all are

before him, and nothing can be hidden

from his eyes.  From the beginning to

the end of time he can see everything,

and nothing is too marvelous for him.

No one can say, 'What is this?' or

'Why is that'-- for everything has been

created for its own purpose.

His blessing covers the dry land like a river,

and drenches it like a flood.

But his wrath drives out the nations,

as when he turned a watered land into salt.

To the faithful his ways are straight,

but full of pitfalls for the wicked.

From the beginning good things

were created for the good,

but for sinners good things and bad.

The basic necessities of human life

are water and fire and iron and salt

and wheat flour and milk and honey,

the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.

All these are good for the godly,

but for sinners they turn into evils.

There are winds created for vengeance,

and in their anger they can dislodge mountains;

on the day of reckoning they will pour out

their strength and calm the anger

of their Maker.

Fire and hail and famine and pestilence,

all these have been created for vengeance;

the fangs of wild animals and scorpions

and vipers, and the sword that punishes

the ungodly with destruction.

They take delight in doing his bidding,

already ready for his service on earth;

and when their time comes, they never

disobey his command.

So from the beginning I have been convinced

of all this and have thought it out and left it

in writing:  ALL THE WORKS of the Lord

are good, and he will supply every need

in its time.

No one can say, 'This is not as good as that,'

for everything proves good in its appointed

time.  So now sing praise with all your

heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord!