Sirach 51

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 I shal give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my Saviour, I give thanks to your 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 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 I will acknowledge your name. For you have been my Helper and Protector.
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 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 stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled,	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 deep in the bel y of Sheol,	5 from the hands of those who sought my life, and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,
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 oppression of the flames that surrounded me, and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,
7 I was completely surrounded, there was no one to help me; I looked for someone to help me, there wasno one.	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 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 My soul shall praise the Lord, even unto death.
9 And I sent up my plea from the earth, I begged to be delivered from death.	9 For my life was drawing near to hell below.
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 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 And my plea was heard, for you saved me from destruction, you delivered me from that time of evil.	11 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your works, which are from the very beginning.
12 And therefore I shal thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the 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 stil a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.	13 You exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I made supplication that death would pass away.
14 Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her.	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 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 I will praise your name unceasingly, and I will praise it with thanksgiving, for my prayer was heeded.
16 By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction.	16 And you freed me from perdition, and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.
17 Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given 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 was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shal not be put toshame.	18 When I was still young, before I wandered astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
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 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 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 My heart rejoiced in her. My feet walked in the right path. From my youth, I pursued her.
21 my very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession.	21 I bent my ear a little and accepted her.
22 In reward the Lord has given me a tongue with which I shal sing his praises.	22 I found much wisdom within myself, and I benefited greatly by her.
23 Come close to me, you ignorant, take your place in my school.	23 I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.
24 Why complain about lacking these things when your souls are so thirsty for them?	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 have opened my mouth, I have said: 'Buy her without money,	25 My soul has struggled for wisdom, and in doing so, I have been confirmed.
26 put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach.'	26 I extended my hands on high, and I mourned my ignorance of her.
27 See for yourselves: how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace.	27 I directed my soul toward her, and I found her within knowledge.
28 Buy instruction with a large sum of silver, thanks to her you wil gain much gold.	28 From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom. Because of this, I will not be forsaken.
29 May your souls rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, may you never be ashamed of praising him.	29 My stomach was stirred up while seeking her. Because of her, I will hold a good possession.
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 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.