“At the Lord’s will,
The storm
From the north comes.
The whirlwind comes.
He scatters the snow
Like birds flying down.
Its descent is
Like locusts alighting.
The eye is dazzled
By the beauty
Of its whiteness.
The mind is amazed
As it falls.
He pours frost
Over the earth
Like salt.
When it freezes,
Icicles form
Like pointed thorns.
The cold north wind blows.
Ice freezes on the water.
It rests upon every pool of water.
It settles on every pond of water.
The water puts it on
Like a breastplate.”
Everything happened according to God’s will. Thus, according to Sirach, the cold north wind with bird like snow is sent by the Lord. Sometimes the snow storm looks like locusts descending on a field. However, we are dazzled by the soft gentle beautiful white snowflakes. Sometimes the snowflakes are like salt that forms pointed thorn icicles. This northern wind freezes the ponds, so that they look like they have a protective breastplate shield on them. This is very beautiful descriptive language about snow and frost.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 