Sirach 24:7-20
-
7 With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide?
-
8 So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.
-
9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.
-
10 In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion.
-
11 Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.
-
12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance.
-
13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.
-
14 I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water.
-
15 I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.
-
16 As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace.
-
17 As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.
-
18 I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him.
-
19 Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits.
-
20 For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb.