Sirach 51

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The prayer of Jesus, the son of Sirach: I will confess to you, O Lord and King, and I will give praise to you, O God my Saviour.	1 I give you thanks, O God of my father; I praise you, O God my savior! I will make known your name, refuge of my life;
2 I will acknowledge your name. For you have been my Helper and Protector.	2 you have been my helper against my adversaries. You have saved me from death, and kept back my body from the pit, From the clutches of the nether world you have snatched my feet;
3 And you have freed my body from perdition, from the snare of the iniquitous tongue, and from the lips of those who forge lies. And you have been my Helper in the sight of those who stood nearby.	3 you have delivered me, in your great mercy From the scourge of a slanderous tongue, and from lips that went over to falsehood; From the snare of those who watched for my downfall, and from the power of those who sought my life; From many a danger you have saved me,
4 And you have freed me according to the multitude of the mercy of your name: from those who roared and prepared to devour,	4 from flames that hemmed me in on every side; From the midst of unremitting fire,
5 from the hands of those who sought my life, and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,	5 From the deep belly of the nether world; From deceiving lips and painters of lies,
6 from the oppression of the flames that surrounded me, and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,	6 from the arrows of dishonest tongues. I was at the point of death, my soul was nearing the depths of the nether world;
7 from the depths of the bowels of hell, and from the defiled tongue, and from lying words, from an iniquitous king, and from an unjust tongue.	7 I turned every way, but there was no one to help me, I looked for one to sustain me, but could find no one.
8 My soul shall praise the Lord, even unto death.	8 But then I remembered the mercies of the LORD, his kindness through ages past; For he saves those who take refuge in him, and rescues them from every evil.
9 For my life was drawing near to hell below.	9 So I raised my voice from the very earth, from the gates of the nether world, my cry.
10 And they surrounded me on every side. And there was no one who would help me. I looked around for the assistance of men, and there was none.	10 I called out: O Lord, you are my father, you are my champion and my savior; Do not abandon me in time of trouble, in the midst of storms and dangers.
11 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your works, which are from the very beginning.	11 I will ever praise your name and be constant in my prayers to you. Thereupon the LORD heard my voice, he listened to my appeal;
12 For you rescue those who persevere for you, O Lord, and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.	12 He saved me from evil of every kind and preserved me in time of trouble. For this reason I thank him and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD.
13 You exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I made supplication that death would pass away.	13 When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom.
14 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, so that he would not abandon me in the day of my tribulation, nor in the time of arrogance without assistance.	14 She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will cultivate her.
15 I will praise your name unceasingly, and I will praise it with thanksgiving, for my prayer was heeded.	15 As the blossoms yielded to ripening grapes, the heart's joy, My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
16 And you freed me from perdition, and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.	16 In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction.
17 Because of this, I will give thanks and praise to you, and I will bless the name of the Lord.	17 Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise.
18 When I was still young, before I wandered astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.	18 I became resolutely devoted to her-- the good I persistently strove for.
19 I asked for her before the temple, and even to the very end, I will inquire after her. And she flourished like a newly-ripened grape.	19 I burned with desire for her, never turning back. I became preoccupied with her, never weary of extolling her. My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets.
20 My heart rejoiced in her. My feet walked in the right path. From my youth, I pursued her.	20 For her I purified my hands; in cleanness I attained to her. At first acquaintance with her, I gained understanding such that I will never forsake her.
21 I bent my ear a little and accepted her.	21 My whole being was stirred as I learned about her; therefore I have made her my prize possession.
22 I found much wisdom within myself, and I benefited greatly by her.	22 The LORD has granted me my lips as a reward, and my tongue will declare his praises.
23 I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.	23 Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction;
24 For I have decided that I should act according to wisdom. I have been zealous for what is good, and so I will not be confounded.	24 How long will you be deprived of wisdom's food, how long will you endure such bitter thirst?
25 My soul has struggled for wisdom, and in doing so, I have been confirmed.	25 I open my mouth and speak of her: gain, at no cost, wisdom for yourselves.
26 I extended my hands on high, and I mourned my ignorance of her.	26 Submit your neck to her yoke, that your mind may accept her teaching. For she is close to those who seek her, and the one who is in earnest finds her.
27 I directed my soul toward her, and I found her within knowledge.	27 See for yourselves! I have labored only a little, but have found much.
28 From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom. Because of this, I will not be forsaken.	28 Acquire but a little instruction; you will win silver and gold through her.
29 My stomach was stirred up while seeking her. Because of her, I will hold a good possession.	29 Let your spirits rejoice in the mercy of God, and be not ashamed to give him praise.
30 The Lord has given me a tongue as my reward, and I will praise him with it.	30 Work at your tasks in due season, and in his own time God will give you your reward.
31 Draw near to me, you who are untaught, and gather yourselves into the house of discipline.
32 Why are you reluctant? And what do you have to say about these things? Your souls are exceedingly thirsty!
33 I have opened my mouth, and I have spoken. Buy wisdom for yourselves without silver,
34 and subject your neck to her yoke, and let your soul accept her discipline. For she is close enough to be found.
35 See with your own eyes how I have labored only a little, and have found much rest for myself.
36 Take up discipline, as if it were a great sum of money, and possess an abundance of gold in her.
37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy. For you will not be confounded by his praise.
38 Accomplish your work before the time. And he will give you your reward in his time.