Sirach 36
36
A Prayer
1Our God, you rule all things;
have mercy on us
2and show all nations
that they should fear you.
3Let them see your power
as you attack them.
4They have seen that you are holy
in the way you treat us.
Now show us that you are great
as you deal with them!
5Teach them, our Lord,
as you taught us,
that you alone are God.
6Perform new miracles,
7so that everyone will know
how powerful you are.
8Get really angry
9and destroy our enemies.
10You have set a time to do this—
please let it come quickly,
then everyone will be talking
about your mighty power.
11And if any survive of those
who had harmed your people,
destroy those enemies
with your fiery anger.
12Crush the heads of their rulers
who say, “All that matters
is what we want to do.”
13Gather together
the tribes of Israel,#36.13 Israel: Greek “Jacob,” an earlier name for the great ancestor of the nation of Israel.
16and#36.16 and: Due to a problem with the numbering in Greek manuscripts, there are no verses numbered 14 and 15, but no verses have been left out. once again give them
control of their land.
17Have pity on us, our Lord.
We are known as your nation,
your first-born child.
18Show mercy to Jerusalem,
your holy city, your home.
19Then everyone in Zion
will celebrate as they tell
of your mighty deeds.
20Prove that you chose us
as your people.
You told your prophets
to make promises to us;
now keep these promises
21so your prophets
will not have lied.
Please reward us
for waiting patiently.
22Our Lord, we are your servants.
If you are pleased with us,
answer our prayer,
and then the whole world
will know that you
are the Eternal Lord God.
Recognizing Lies
23There are many different foods,
but you like some
better than others.
24And just as your taste tells you
what you are eating,
a smart mind will know
when it hears a lie.
25People with twisted minds
cause a lot of trouble,
but if you learn from experience
you can send the trouble
back on them.
Choosing a Wife
26A woman cannot choose
the man she will marry,
but a man can choose his wife,
and some women
make better wives than others.
27Beauty is important to men,
and most men would be happy
to marry a beautiful woman.
28But a man is really lucky
if his wife speaks
with humility and kindness.
29The most important thing
a man can have
is a wife who helps him
and is a suitable partner.
30Without a fence around a home,
robbers can steal
whatever they want.
And without a wife,
a man wanders aimlessly,
31homeless, spending the night
wherever he can,
trusted no more than a thief
who is always on the run.
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Sirach 36: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.