Sirach 51

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:	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 For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries:	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 hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;	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 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;	4 from flames that hemmed me in on every side; From the midst of unremitting fire,
5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.	5 From the deep belly of the nether world; From deceiving lips and painters of lies,
6 By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.	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 They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.	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 Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.	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 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.	9 So I raised my voice from the very earth, from the gates of the nether world, my cry.
10 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.	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 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:	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 thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord.	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 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.	13 When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom.
14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.	14 She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will cultivate her.
15 Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her.	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 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.	16 In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction.
17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.	17 Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise.
18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.	18 I became resolutely devoted to her-- the good I persistently strove for.
19 My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.	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 I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be foresaken.	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 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.	21 My whole being was stirred as I learned about her; therefore I have made her my prize possession.
22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.	22 The LORD has granted me my lips as a reward, and my tongue will declare his praises.
23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.	23 Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction;
24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?	24 How long will you be deprived of wisdom's food, how long will you endure such bitter thirst?
25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.	25 I open my mouth and speak of her: gain, at no cost, wisdom for yourselves.
26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.	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 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.	27 See for yourselves! I have labored only a little, but have found much.
28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.	28 Acquire but a little instruction; you will win silver and gold through her.
29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.	29 Let your spirits rejoice in the mercy of God, and be not ashamed to give him praise.
30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.	30 Work at your tasks in due season, and in his own time God will give you your reward.