Sirach 51

NEW JERUSALEM	VULGATA
1 I shal give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my Saviour, I give thanks to your name;	1 Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.
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 Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,
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 et liberasti corpus meum a perditione : a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium : et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.
4 from the stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled,	4 Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam :
5 from deep in the bel y of Sheol,	5 de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me ;
6 treacherous denunciations to the king. My soul has been close to death, my life had gone down to thebrink of Sheol.	6 a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus ;
7 I was completely surrounded, there was no one to help me; I looked for someone to help me, there wasno one.	7 de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.
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 Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,
9 And I sent up my plea from the earth, I begged to be delivered from death.	9 et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.
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 Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret : respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.
11 And my plea was heard, for you saved me from destruction, you delivered me from that time of evil.	11 Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt :
12 And therefore I shal thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the Lord.	12 quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.
13 When I was stil a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.	13 Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.
14 Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her.	14 Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.
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 Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione : et exaudita est oratio mea,
16 By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction.	16 et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.
17 Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom!	17 Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.
18 For I was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shal not be put toshame.	18 Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.
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 Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam : et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.
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 Lætatum est cor meum in ea : ambulavit pes meus iter rectum : a juventute mea investigabam eam.
21 my very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession.	21 Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.
22 In reward the Lord has given me a tongue with which I shal sing his praises.	22 Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.
23 Come close to me, you ignorant, take your place in my school.	23 Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam :
24 Why complain about lacking these things when your souls are so thirsty for them?	24 consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.
25 I have opened my mouth, I have said: 'Buy her without money,	25 Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.
26 put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach.'	26 Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi ;
27 See for yourselves: how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace.	27 animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.
28 Buy instruction with a large sum of silver, thanks to her you wil gain much gold.	28 Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio : propter hoc, non derelinquar.
29 May your souls rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, may you never be ashamed of praising him.	29 Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam : propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.
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 Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.
	31 Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.
	32 Quid adhuc retardatis ? et quid dicitis in his ? animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.
	33 Aperui os meum, et locutus sum : Comparate vobis sine argento,
	34 et collum vestrum subjicite jugo : et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam : in proximo est enim invenire eam.
	35 Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi, et inveni mihi multam requiem.
	36 Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti, et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.
	37 Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.
	38 Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus, et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo.