Sirach 36
36
Prayer for Israel’s deliverance
1Have mercy on us, Lord God of all;
2and teach all nations to stand
in awe of you.
3Raise up your hand
against foreign nations,
and let them see your power.
4Just as they saw your holiness
made visible in our midst,
so let us see your power
made visible in their midst.
5Let them know you,
just as we also have known, Lord,
that there’s no God except you.
6Renew the signs,
and work different wonders;
7make your strong hand and arm glorious.
8Arouse your anger;
pour out your wrath;
9remove the adversary;
destroy the enemy.
10Act quickly,
remember what you have sworn,
and let people tell of your mighty acts.
11Let those who survive
be consumed in a fiery wrath,
and may those who harm your people
come to destruction.
12Crush the heads of hostile rulers,
who say, “We’re all that matters.”
13Gather all the tribes of Jacob,#36.13 Due to a mistaken transposition in chapter and verse order in every Gk manuscript, no text is missing, but verses 36:14–15 are not used for chap 36.
16and give them their inheritance,
as you did at the beginning.
17Have mercy, Lord, on the people
who have been called by your name;
on Israel, whom you made like
an oldest child.
18Take pity on the city
where your sanctuary is;
on Jerusalem,
the place where you live.#36.18 Heb the place where your dwelling is
19Fill Zion with the celebration
of your mighty deeds,#36.19 Heb your splendor
and fill your temple with your glory.
20Bear witness to those
whom you created at the beginning,
and fulfill the prophecies
that were given in your name.
21Give a reward to those
who wait for you,
and let your prophets
be found trustworthy.
22Hear, Lord, the prayer
of your household slaves
according to your goodwill
toward your people,
and all those
who live upon the earth
will know that you are the Lord,
the God of the ages.
Wives, friends, and counselors
23The stomach will accept any food,
but one kind of food
is better than another.
24As the palate tastes different
types of game,
so an intelligent mind tests#36.24 LXX lacks tests. false words.
25A perverse heart will cause grief,
but an experienced person
will know how to give payback.
26A woman will accept any male
as a husband,#36.26 LXX lacks as a husband.
but some daughters are preferable
to other ones.
27A woman’s beauty brightens a man’s face,
and she surpasses a man’s every desire.
28If her speech is characterized
by mercy and gentleness,
her husband is unlike anyone else.
29Whoever acquires a wife
takes his first step toward success.#36.29 Heb gets his best possession
She will be a fit helper for him
and a pillar of rest.#36.29 Heb pillar of support
30Where no fence exists,
the property is carried off,
and where there’s no wife,
a man sighs as he wanders about.#36.30 Heb he becomes a fugitive and a wanderer
31Who will trust a well-equipped robber
who travels from city to city?
Likewise, who will trust a man
who does not have a nest
and who lodges wherever night falls?
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Sirach 36: CEB
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