Single lesson
Sirach 39: Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times
Sirach 39:12–35
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Sirach 39: Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times, using two details from the reading. 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.
Welcome: Sirach 39: Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times
5 minIntroduce “Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times” and locate Sirach 39:12–35. 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. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Sirach 39:12, Sirach 39:24, Sirach 39:35
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe 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.
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.
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.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Sirach 39:12, Sirach 39:13, Sirach 39:14, Sirach 39:15, Sirach 39:22, Sirach 39:23, Sirach 39:24, Sirach 39:25, Sirach 39:26, Sirach 39:27, Sirach 39:28, Sirach 39:29, Sirach 39:30, Sirach 39:31, Sirach 39:32, Sirach 39:33, Sirach 39:34, Sirach 39:35
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What pictures in the opening verses show what praise should be like?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. 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. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Sirach 39:13, Sirach 39:14, Sirach 39:15, Sirach 39:17, Sirach 39:19, Sirach 39:21, Sirach 39:26, Sirach 39:27, Sirach 39:28, Sirach 39:31, Sirach 39:33
Make and respond: Wisdom comparison cards
12 minWork on “Sirach 39: Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times: Wisdom comparison cards”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Sirach 39:12, Sirach 39:24, Sirach 39:35
Closing: return to Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times
3 minRevisit Sirach 39:12–35. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Sirach 39:12, Sirach 39:24, Sirach 39:35
Questions to explore
What 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.
Sirach 39:13, Sirach 39:14, Sirach 39:15
Why 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.
Sirach 39:17, Sirach 39:19, Sirach 39:21
How 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.
Sirach 39:26, Sirach 39:27, Sirach 39:28, Sirach 39:31, Sirach 39:33
Make, think or respond
Sirach 39: Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times: Wisdom comparison cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage commends”, “What it warns against”, “The reason or outcome stated”.
- Read Sirach 39:12–35. Use “Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write a proposed everyday example beside one teaching. Label it as your example and explain which words in the text guided it.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Sirach 39: Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Praise the Creator whose works serve their appointed times” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Sirach 39:12–35. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Sirach 39:12–35. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Sirach 39
12 Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon.
13 Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.
14 Give 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!
15 Magnify his name and give utterance to his praise with the songs on your lips and with harps! Say this when you utter his praise:
16 All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time.
17 No 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.
18 At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation.
19 The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.
20 He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him.
21 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses.
22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood.
23 As he has made the waters salty, so the heathen will inherit his wrath.
24 His ways are plain to the holy. They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.
25 Good things are created from the beginning for the good. So are evil things for sinners.
26 The 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.
27 All these things are for good to the godly, but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.
28 There 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.
29 Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance—
30 wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.
31 They will rejoice in his commandment, and will be made ready upon earth when needed. In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command.
32 Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing:
33 All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time.
34 No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time.
35 Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praises and bless the Lord’s name!
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.