Sir 36

1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us: 2 And send your fear upon all the nations that seek not after you. 3 Lift up your hand against the strange nations, and let them see your power. 4 As you were sanctified in us before them: so be you magnified among them before us. 5 And let them know you, as we have known you, that there is no God but only you, O God. 6 Show new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify your hand and your right arm,that they may set forth your wondrous works. 7 Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath: take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy. 8 Sake the time short, remember the covenant, and let them declare your wonderful works. 9 Let him that escapes be consumed by the rage of the fire; and let them perish that oppressthe people. 10 Strike in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none otherbut we. 11 Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit you them, as from the beginning.Though I was the last to wake up, yet I received their inheritance as from the beginning. 12 O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name, and upon Israel, whomyou have named your firstborn. 13 O be merciful to Jerusalem, your holy city, the place of your rest. 14 Fill Sion with your unspeakable oracles, and your people with your glory: 15 Give testimony to those that you have possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophetsthat have been in your name. 16 Reward them that wait for you, and let your prophets be found faithful. 17 O Lord, hear the prayer of your servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over yourpeople, that all they which dwell upon the earth may know that you are the Lord, the eternal God. 18 The belly devours all meats, yet is one meat better than another. 19 As the palate tastes various kinds of venison: so does an heart of understanding falsespeeches. 20 A froward heart causes heaviness: but a man of experience will recompense him. 21 A woman will receive every man, yet is one daughter better than another. 22 The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance, and a man loves nothing better. 23 If there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her tongue, then is not her husband likeother men. 24 He that gets a wife begins a possession, a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest. 25 Where no hedge is, there the possession is spoiled: and he that has no wife will wanderup and down mourning. 26 Who will trust a thief well appointed, that skips from city to city? sowho will believe a man that has no house, and lodges wherever the night takes him?