1 The prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will confess to thee o Lord King, and will praise thee God my Savior.
1 A prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Savior.
2 I will confess to thy name: because thou art become my helper and protector,
2 I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me.
3 & hast delivered my body from perdition, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that work lying, and in the sight of them that stood up thou art become my helper.
3 And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper.
4 And thou hast delivered me according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name from them that did roar, prepared to devour,
4 And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.
5 out of the hands of them that seek my soul, and from the gates of tribulations which have compassed me:
5 Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:
6 from the oppression of the flame, which hath compassed me, and in the midst of fire I was not burnt.
6 From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.
7 From the depth of the belly of hell, and from a defiled tongue, and from the word of lying, from a wicked king, and from an unjust tongue:
7 From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue:
8 my soul shall praise our Lord even to death,
8 My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.
9 and my life was approaching to hell beneath.
9 And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.
10 They have compassed me on every side, & there was none that would help. I looked toward the help of men, & there was none.
10 They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would help me. I looked for the succor of men, and there was none.
11 I remembered thy mercy o Lord, and thy operation, which are from the beginning of the world.
11 I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.
12 Because thou deliverest them that patiently expect thee o Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
12 How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
13 Thou hast exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I have prayed for death to pass away.
13 Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.
14 I have invocated our Lord the father of my Lord, that he leave me not in the day of my tribulation, and in the time of the proud without help.
14 I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help.
15 I will praise thy name continually, and will collaud it in confession, and my prayer was heard.
15 I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
16 And thou hast delivered me from perdition, and hast rescued me from the wicked time.
16 And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.
17 Therefore will I confess, & say praise to thee, and bless the name of our Lord.
17 Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.
18 When I was yet young, before I erred, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.
18 When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.
19 Before the temple I prayed for it, and unto the later end I will seek after it, and it shall flourish as the grape timely ripe,
19 I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
20 my heart hath rejoiced in it, my foot hath walked the right way, from my youth I searched after it.
20 My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.
21 I bowed mine ear a little, and received it.
21 I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.
22 Ifound much wisdom in myself, & I have much profited therein.
22 I found much wisdom in myself, and profited much therein.
23 To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.
23 To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.
24 For I have consulted to do it: I have had a zeal to good, and shall not be confounded.
24 For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.
25 My soul hath wrestled in it, and in doing it I was confirmed.
25 My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.
26 Istretched forth my hands on high, & I lamented foolishness.
26 I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.
27 I directed my soul to wisdom, and in knowledge I found it.
27 I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.
28 I possessed with it an heart from the beginning: for this cause I shall not be forsaken.
28 I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.
29 My belly was troubled in seeking it: therefore shall I possess a good possession.
29 My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.
30 Our Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with the same I will praise him.
30 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.
31 Approach unto me ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline.
31 Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline.
32 Why slack ye yet? And what say you herein? Your souls are exceeding thirsty.
32 Why are ye slow and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.
33 I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: Buy it for you without silver,
33 I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,
34 and submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for it is very near to find it.
34 And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.
35 See with your eyes that I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.
35 Behold with your eyes how I have labored a little, and have found much rest to myself.
36 Take ye discipline in a great sum of silver, and possess aboundance of gold in it.
36 Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.
37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be confounded in praise.
37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy and you shall not be confounded in his praise.
38 Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.
38 Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.