Sirach
51:1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I
do give praise unto thy name:
51:2 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:
51:3 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;
51:4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire
which I kindled not;
51:5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from
lying words.
51:6 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.
51:7 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.
51:8 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.
51:9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for
deliverance from death.
51:10 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.
51:11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with
thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:
51:12 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.
51:13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in
my prayer.
51:14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the
end.
51:15 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.
51:16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.
51:17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth
me wisdom.
51:18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is
good; so shall I not be confounded.
51:19 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.
51:20 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.
51:21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good
possession.
51:22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him
therewith.
51:23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.
51:24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your
souls are very thirsty?
51:25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.
51:26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she
is hard at hand to find.
51:27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have
gotten unto me much rest.
51:28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.
51:29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.
51:30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.
