Wisdom of Ben Sira 24:3-22
New Catholic Bible
3 “I came forth from the mouth of the Most High
and covered the earth like a mist.[a]
4 I dwelt in the highest heavens,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5 Alone I encircled the vault of heaven
and traversed the depths of the abyss.
6 Over the waves of the sea, over the whole earth,
and over every people and nation I have held sway.
7 Among all these I sought a place of rest;
in whose territory should I abide?
8 “Then the Creator of all things gave me his command;
he who created me decreed where I should dwell,
saying, ‘Make your dwelling in Jacob,
and in Israel receive your inheritance.’
9 Before all ages, in the beginning, he created me,
and I shall not cease to be for all eternity.
10 In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and then I became established in Zion.
11 Thus, in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,
in Jerusalem I wield my power.
12 I have taken root in an honored people,
in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.
13 “There I grew tall like a cedar on Lebanon,
like a cypress on Mount Hermon.
14 I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi,
like a rosebush in Jericho,
like a fair olive tree in the field,
or like a plane tree beside the water.
15 Like cinnamon or camel-thorn I gave forth perfume,
and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,
like galbanum, onycha, and spices
and like the odor of incense in the tent.
16 I spread out my branches like a terebinth,[b]
and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17 Like the vine I bud forth delights,
and my blossoms become fruit fair and abundant.
[18 I am the mother of fair love,
of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope;
being eternal, I am given to all my children,
to those who are appointed by him.][c]
19 “Come to me, all of you who desire me,
and eat your fill of my fruits.
20 For the memory of me is sweeter than honey;
to possess me is sweeter than the honeycomb.
21 Whoever feeds on me will hunger for more;
whoever drinks of me will thirst for more.
22 Whoever obeys me will never be put to shame;
whoever follows my instructions will never sin.”
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 24:3 Allusion to the “Spirit of God hover[ing] over the waters” (Gen 1:2).
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 24:16 Terebinth: a type of oak.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 24:18 Added by some early MSS. In place of verse 18c-d the Vulgate reads (as vv. 24-25): “In me is all grace of the way and of the truth; / in me is all hope of life and strength.” These words clearly manifest themselves as a Christian gloss (with allusion to Jn 14:6 where Wisdom is identified with Christ). The Liturgy has taken delight in applying these words to the Blessed Mother.
