Ecclesiasticus 51

VULGATA	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.	1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:
2 Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,	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:
3 et liberasti corpus meum a perditione : a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium : et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.	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;
4 Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam :	4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;
5 de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me ;	5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.
6 a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus ;	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.
7 de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.	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.
8 Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,	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.
9 et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.	9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.
10 Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret : respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.	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.
11 Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt :	11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:
12 quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.	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.
13 Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.	13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.
14 Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.	14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.
15 Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione : et exaudita est oratio mea,	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.
16 et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.	16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.
17 Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.	17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.
18 Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.	18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.
19 Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam : et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.	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.
20 Lætatum est cor meum in ea : ambulavit pes meus iter rectum : a juventute mea investigabam eam.	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.
21 Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.	21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.
22 Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.	22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.
23 Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam :	23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.
24 consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.	24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?
25 Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.	25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.
26 Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi ;	26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.
27 animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.	27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.
28 Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio : propter hoc, non derelinquar.	28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.
29 Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam : propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.	29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.
30 Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.	30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.
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.