Ecclesiasticus 51

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