Sirach 24:9-24
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9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.
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10 In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion.
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11 Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.
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12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance.
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13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.
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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.
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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.
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16 As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace.
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17 As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.
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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.
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19 Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits.
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20 For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb.
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21 They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty.
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22 He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss.
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23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob.
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24 Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no other Saviour.