Read & explore together
Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times
In this part of Sirach, the writer calls God’s people to praise the Lord by looking at his works. The passage moves from invitation, to confidence in God’s ordering of creation, to a sober reminder that all things serve his purposes.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
Sirach 39:12–35 is a wisdom passage from the Catholic additional books. The speaker says he has thought carefully and written his conclusion. He addresses “holy children”, urges praise with song, and repeats that the Lord’s works are good and act in their proper time.
Sirach 39:12–35Main takeaway
Sirach 39:12–35 teaches that the Lord’s works are good and serve their appointed purposes, so people are called to praise him with reverence and trust.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A call to bloom and praiseThe speaker begins personally, saying he is full and ready to speak. He then calls his hearers “holy children” to grow like well-watered plants, give fragrance, sing, and bless the Lord for all his works.
Explanation
The speaker begins personally, saying he is full and ready to speak. He then calls his hearers “holy children” to grow like well-watered plants, give fragrance, sing, and bless the Lord for all his works. Praise here is active, joyful, and directed to God because of what he has made and done.
02The Lord’s works are good and timelyThe central claim is clear: all the Lord’s works are exceedingly good, and his command is done in its time.
Explanation
The central claim is clear: all the Lord’s works are exceedingly good, and his command is done in its time. The repeated questions, “What is this?” and “Why is that?” are answered by saying things will be understood and sought out at the proper time. Nothing escapes his sight or exceeds his power.
03The same world brings blessing and stumblingThe passage says God’s blessing can cover the land, yet it also speaks of wrath. His ways are plain to the holy but stumbling blocks to the wicked.
Explanation
The passage says God’s blessing can cover the land, yet it also speaks of wrath. His ways are plain to the holy but stumbling blocks to the wicked. Sirach then lists basic gifts for human life such as water, fire, salt, flour, honey, milk, wine, oil, and clothing, showing ordinary provisions are part of God’s good ordering.
04Judgement also comes at the appointed timeSirach soberly adds that some created forces serve judgement: winds, fire, hail, famine, death, wild beasts, scorpions, adders, and the sword.
Explanation
Sirach soberly adds that some created forces serve judgement: winds, fire, hail, famine, death, wild beasts, scorpions, adders, and the sword. Even these are pictured as ready when needed and obedient in their seasons. The writer closes by restating his conclusion: the Lord’s works are good, needs are supplied in time, and all should praise his name.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What pictures in the opening verses show what praise should be like?
Look for plant and fragrance images, and notice that praise includes both words and song offered to the Lord for his works.
02Why does the passage repeat, “What is this?” or “Why is that?”
The text answers by pointing to proper time, proper use, and the Lord’s complete knowledge of all things.
03How does Sirach hold together everyday gifts and instruments of judgement in the same passage?
Compare the list of necessities for life with the later list of destructive forces, and notice that both are said to act in their appointed seasons under God’s command.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 39:12–35
12Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon.
13Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.
14Give a sweet fragrance like frankincense. Put forth flowers like a lily. Scatter a sweet smell and sing a song of praise. Bless the Lord for all his works!
15Magnify his name and give utterance to his praise with the songs on your lips and with harps! Say this when you utter his praise:
16All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time.
17No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for at the proper time they will all be sought out. At his word, the waters stood as a heap, as did the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.
18At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation.
19The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.
20He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him.
21No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses.
22His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood.
23As he has made the waters salty, so the heathen will inherit his wrath.
24His ways are plain to the holy. They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.
25Good things are created from the beginning for the good. So are evil things for sinners.
26The main things necessary for the life of man are water, fire, iron, salt, wheat flour, and honey, milk, the blood of the grape, oil, and clothing.
27All these things are for good to the godly, but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.
28There are winds that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on their scourges heavily. In the time of reckoning, they pour out their strength, and will appease the wrath of him who made them.
29Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance—
30wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.
31They will rejoice in his commandment, and will be made ready upon earth when needed. In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command.
32Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing:
33All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time.
34No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time.
35Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praises and bless the Lord’s name!