What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 43 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The chapter’s wording is retained in order with explicit attribution. Edition headings and annotations remain distinct from the chapter’s speech. Requests, comparisons and warnings are preserved without invented outcomes.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 43 praises the firmament and rising sun, its noon furnace and threefold mountain-burning comparison, and its course under divine word. Moon declares times, festivals and months; stars keep watches. Rainbow invites blessing. Snow, lightning, clouds, hail, shaking mountains, south wind, thunder, northern storm and whirlwind display the speaker's imagery. Snow resembles settling birds and locusts; frost salt and thistles; frozen water crystal and breastplate. Cold consumes green growth, while cloud and dew with coming heat provide remedy. Morning dew is not specified.

At divine word wind stills and deep calms, with islands planted. Sailors should tell sea dangers; beasts, living things and monstrous whales prompt wonder. Journey's end is established through God and things regulated by his word, without assigning journeys to all creatures or calling islands fertile.

Words fall short: their sum is He is all, yet Almighty stands above his works. Praise should use all strength without weariness and cannot go far enough. Greater things remain hidden, few works seen, and God who made all grants wisdom to the godly. Ecological balance and a mechanism bridging an infinite gap are not added to this hymn.

The story inside

Opening: The chapter’s wording is retained in order with explicit attribution. Development: Edition headings and annotations remain distinct from the chapter’s speech. Conclusion: Requests, comparisons and warnings are preserved without invented outcomes.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chapter’s wording is retained in order with explicit attribution.
2
Edition headings and annotations remain distinct from the chapter’s speech.
3
Requests, comparisons and warnings are preserved without invented outcomes.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 77665–77666
43:12. Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.
Lines 77717–77718
43:29. We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.