Sirach 51

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I shal give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my Saviour, I give thanks to your 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 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 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 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 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 stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled,	4 from flames that hemmed me in on every side; From the midst of unremitting fire,
5 from deep in the bel y of Sheol,	5 From the deep belly of the nether world; From deceiving lips and painters of lies,
6 treacherous denunciations to the king. My soul has been close to death, my life had gone down to thebrink of Sheol.	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 I was completely surrounded, there was no one to help me; I looked for someone to help me, there wasno one.	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 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 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 And I sent up my plea from the earth, I begged to be delivered from death.	9 So I raised my voice from the very earth, from the gates of the nether world, my cry.
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 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 And my plea was heard, for you saved me from destruction, you delivered me from that time of evil.	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 And therefore I shal thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the 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 stil a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.	13 When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom.
14 Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her.	14 She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will cultivate her.
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 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 By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction.	16 In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction.
17 Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom!	17 Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise.
18 For I was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shal not be put toshame.	18 I became resolutely devoted to her-- the good I persistently strove for.
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 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 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 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 very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession.	21 My whole being was stirred as I learned about her; therefore I have made her my prize possession.
22 In reward the Lord has given me a tongue with which I shal sing his praises.	22 The LORD has granted me my lips as a reward, and my tongue will declare his praises.
23 Come close to me, you ignorant, take your place in my school.	23 Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction;
24 Why complain about lacking these things when your souls are so thirsty for them?	24 How long will you be deprived of wisdom's food, how long will you endure such bitter thirst?
25 I have opened my mouth, I have said: 'Buy her without money,	25 I open my mouth and speak of her: gain, at no cost, wisdom for yourselves.
26 put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach.'	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 See for yourselves: how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace.	27 See for yourselves! I have labored only a little, but have found much.
28 Buy instruction with a large sum of silver, thanks to her you wil gain much gold.	28 Acquire but a little instruction; you will win silver and gold through her.
29 May your souls rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, may you never be ashamed of praising him.	29 Let your spirits rejoice in the mercy of God, and be not ashamed to give him praise.
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 Work at your tasks in due season, and in his own time God will give you your reward.