Sirach 51

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 I shal give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my Saviour, I give thanks to your name;	1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple.
2 for you have been my guard and support and redeemed my body from destruction, from the snare ofthe lying tongue, from lips that fabricate falsehood; in the presence of my assailants, you were on my side; youhave been my support, you have redeemed me,	2 By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double building and the high walls of the temple.
3 true to your abounding kindness -- and the greatness of your name -- you liberated me from the fangsof those seeking to devour me, from the clutches of those seeking my life, from the many ordeals which I haveendured,	3 In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled as the sea above measure.
4 from the stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled,	4 He took care of his nation, and delivered it from destruction.
5 from deep in the bel y of Sheol,	5 He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in his conversation with the people: and enlarged the entrance of the house and the court.
6 treacherous denunciations to the king. My soul has been close to death, my life had gone down to thebrink of Sheol.	6 He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full.
7 I was completely surrounded, there was no one to help me; I looked for someone to help me, there wasno one.	7 And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of God.
8 Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your deeds from earliest times, how you deliver those whowait for you patiently, and save them from the clutches of their enemies.	8 And as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds, and as the flower of roses in the days of the spring, and as the lilies that are on the brink of the water, and as the sweet smelling frankincense in the time of summer.
9 And I sent up my plea from the earth, I begged to be delivered from death.	9 As a bright Are, and frankincense burning in the fire.
10 I cal ed on the Lord, the father of my Lord, 'Do not desert me in the days of ordeal, in the days of theproud, when we are helpless. I shal praise your name unceasingly and grateful y sing its praises.'	10 As a massy vessel of gold, adorned with every precious stone.
11 And my plea was heard, for you saved me from destruction, you delivered me from that time of evil.	11 As an olive tree budding forth, and a cypress tree rearing itself on high, when he put on the robe of glory, and was clothed with the perfection of power.
12 And therefore I shal thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the Lord.	12 When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture of holiness.
13 When I was stil a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.	13 And when he took the portions out of the hands of the priests, he himself stood by the altar. And about him was the ring of his brethren: and as the cedar planted in mount Libanus,
14 Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her.	14 And as branches of palm trees, they stood round about him, and all the sons of Aaron in their glory.
15 From her blossoming to the ripening of her grape my heart has taken its delight in her. My foot haspursued a straight path, I have sought her ever since my youth.	15 And the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel: and finishing his service, on the altar, to honour the offering of the most high Ring,
16 By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction.	16 He stretched forth his hand to make a libation, and offered of the blood of the grape.
17 Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom!	17 He poured out at the foot of the altar a divine odour to the most high Prince.
18 For I was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shal not be put toshame.	18 Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded with beaten trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard for a remembrance before God.
19 My soul has fought to possess her, I have been scrupulous in keeping the Law; I have stretched outmy hands to heaven and bewailed how little I knew of her;	19 Then all the people together made haste, and fell down to the earth upon their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to pray to the Almighty God the most High.
20 I have directed my soul towards her, and in purity I have found her; having my heart fixed on her fromthe outset, I shall never be deserted;	20 And the singers lifted up their voices. and in the great house the sound of sweet melody was increased.
21 my very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession.	21 And the people in prayer besought the Lord the most High, until the worship of the Lord was perfected, and they had finished their office.
22 In reward the Lord has given me a tongue with which I shal sing his praises.	22 Then coming down, he lifted up his hands over all the congregation of the children of Israel, to give glory to God with his lips, and to glory in his name:
23 Come close to me, you ignorant, take your place in my school.	23 And he repeated his prayer, willing to shew the power of God.
24 Why complain about lacking these things when your souls are so thirsty for them?	24 And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great things in all the earth, who hath increased our days from our mother's womb, and hath done with us according to his mercy.
25 I have opened my mouth, I have said: 'Buy her without money,	25 May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be peace in our days in Israel for ever:
26 put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach.'	26 That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us, to deliver us in his days.
27 See for yourselves: how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace.	27 There are two nations which my soul abhorreth: and the third is no nation, which I hate:
28 Buy instruction with a large sum of silver, thanks to her you wil gain much gold.	28 They that sit on mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the foolish people that dwell in Sichem.
29 May your souls rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, may you never be ashamed of praising him.	29 Jesus the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, hath written in this book the doctrine of wisdom and instruction, who renewed wisdom from his heart.
30 Do your work before the appointed time and at the appointed time he wil give you your reward.(Subscript:) Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sira.	30 Blessed is he that is conversant in these good things: and he that layeth them up in his heart, shall be wise always.
	31 For if he do them, he shall be strong to do all things: because the light of God guideth his steps.