Ben Sira 24:22-31

22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with me will not sin."

23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law that Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.

25 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.

26 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, and like the Jordan at harvest time.

27 It pours forth instruction like the Nile, like the Gihon at the time of vintage.

28 The first man did not know wisdom fully, nor will the last one fathom her.

29 For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea, and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.

30 As for me, I was like a canal from a river, like a water channel into a garden.

31 I said, "I will water my garden and drench my flower-beds." And lo, my canal became a river, and my river a sea.

Footnotes

• [a] Other ancient authorities add as verse 24, ["Do not cease to be strong in the Lord, cling to him so that he may strengthen you; the Lord Almighty alone is God, and besides him there is no savior."]
• [b] Syr: Gk [It makes instruction shine forth like light]
• [c] Gk [her]