Hellenistic Jews

Qohelet

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

Sirach 42

I will now call to mind the works of the Lord

   and will declare what I have seen.

By the word of the Lord his works are made,

   and all his creatures do his will.[e]

16 The sun looks down on everything with its light,

   and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.

17 The Lord has not empowered even his holy ones

   to recount all his marvelous works,

which the Lord the Almighty has established

   so that the universe may stand firm in his glory.

18 He searches out the abyss and the human heart;

   he understands their subtleties.[f]

For the Most High knows all that may be known;

   he sees from of old the things that are to come.[g]

19 He discloses what has been and what is to be,

   and he reveals the traces of hidden things.

20 No thought escapes him,

   and not a single word is hidden from him.

21 He has set in order the splendors of his wisdom;

   he is from all eternity one and the same.

Nothing can be added or taken away,

   and he needs no one to be his counselor.

22 How desirable are all his works,

   and how sparkling they are to see![h]

23 All these things live and remain forever;

   each creature is preserved to meet a particular need.[i]

24 All things come in pairs, one opposite the other,

   and he has made nothing incomplete.

25 Each supplements the virtues of the other.

   Who could ever tire of seeing his glory?