Ecclesiasticus Chapter 43

The works of God are exceedingly glorious and wonderful: no man is able sufficiently to praise him.

43:1. The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.

43:2. The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High.

43:3. At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:

43:4. The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes.

43:5. Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.

43:6. And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.

43:7. From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.

43:8. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection.

43:9. Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven.

43:10. The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.

43:11. By the words of the holy one they stand in judgment, and shall never fall in their watches.

43:12. Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.

43:13. It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.

43:14. By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.

43:15. Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.

43:16. By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.

43:17. At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.

43:18. The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:

43:19. And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.

43:20. The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.

43:21. He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.

43:22. The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.

43:23. And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.

43:24. A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.

43:25. At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.

43:26. Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.

43:27. There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.

43:28. Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.

43:29. We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.

43:30. What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.

43:31. The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.

43:32. Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.

43:33. Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he is above all praise.

43:34. When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.

43:35. Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?

43:36. There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of his works.

43:37. But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath given wisdom.