Sirach 51

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:	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.
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 I will acknowledge your name. For you have been my Helper and Protector.
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 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.
4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;	4 And you have freed me according to the multitude of the mercy of your name: from those who roared and prepared to devour,
5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.	5 from the hands of those who sought my life, and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,
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 oppression of the flames that surrounded me, and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,
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 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.
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 My soul shall praise the Lord, even unto death.
9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.	9 For my life was drawing near to hell below.
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 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.
11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:	11 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your works, which are from the very beginning.
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 For you rescue those who persevere for you, O Lord, and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.
13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.	13 You exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I made supplication that death would pass away.
14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.	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.
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 I will praise your name unceasingly, and I will praise it with thanksgiving, for my prayer was heeded.
16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.	16 And you freed me from perdition, and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.
17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.	17 Because of this, I will give thanks and praise to you, and I will bless the name of the Lord.
18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.	18 When I was still young, before I wandered astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
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 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.
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 My heart rejoiced in her. My feet walked in the right path. From my youth, I pursued her.
21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.	21 I bent my ear a little and accepted her.
22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.	22 I found much wisdom within myself, and I benefited greatly by her.
23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.	23 I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.
24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?	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.
25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.	25 My soul has struggled for wisdom, and in doing so, I have been confirmed.
26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.	26 I extended my hands on high, and I mourned my ignorance of her.
27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.	27 I directed my soul toward her, and I found her within knowledge.
28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.	28 From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom. Because of this, I will not be forsaken.
29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.	29 My stomach was stirred up while seeking her. Because of her, I will hold a good possession.
30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.	30 The Lord has given me a tongue as my reward, and I will praise him with it.
	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.