Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

51:1 I will thanke thee, O Lord and king, and praise thee O God my Sauiour, I doe giue praise vnto thy name:

51:1 [A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.] 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 defeuder, and helper, and hast preserued my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lippes that forge lies, and hast beene my helper against mine aduersaries.

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 deliuered me according to the multitude of thy mercies, and greatnesse of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to deuoure me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had:

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 euery side, and from the mids of the fire, which I kindled not:

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 hel, from an vncleane tongue, and from lying words.

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 vnrighteous tongue, my soule drew neere euen vnto death, my life was neere to the hell beneath:

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 euery side, and there was no man to helpe me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none:

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 vpon thy mercy, O Lord, and vpon thy acts of old, how thou deliuerest such as waite for thee, and sauest them out of the hands of the enemies:

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 vp my supplication from the earth, and prayed for deliuerance from death.

51:9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.

51:10 I called vpon the Lord the father of my Lord, that he would not leaue me in the dayes of my trouble, & in the time of the proud when there was no helpe.

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 praise with thankesgiuing, and so my prayer was heard:

51:11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:

51:12 For thou sauedst me from destruction, and deliuerest mee from the euill time: therefore will I giue thankes and praise thee, and blesse thy Name, O Lord.

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 yong, or euer I went abroad, I desired wisedome openly in my prayer.

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, & will seeke her out euen to the end:

51:14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.

51:15 Euen from the flowre till the grape was ripe, hath my heart delighted in her, my foot went the right way, from my youth vp sought I after her.

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 downe mine eare a litle and receiued her, & gate much learning.

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 the glory vnto him that giueth me wisedome:

51:17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.

51:18 For I purposed to doe after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good, so shall I not be confounded:

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 soule hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact, I stretched foorth my hands to the heauen aboue, & bewailed my ignorances of her.

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 soule vnto her, and I found her in purenesse, I haue had my heart ioyned with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not bee forsaken.

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 haue I gotten a good possession.

51:21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.

51:22 The Lord hath giuen mee a tongue for my reward, and I wil praise him therewith.

51:22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.

51:23 Draw neere vnto me you vnlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.

51:23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.

51:24 Wherefore are you slow, and what say you of these things, seeing your soules are very thirstie?

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 your selues without money.

51:25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.

51:26 Put your necke vnder the yoke, and let your soule receiue instruction, she is hard at hand to finde.

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 eies, how that I haue had but little labour, and haue gotten vnto me much rest.

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 summe of money, and get much gold by her.

51:28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.

51:29 Let your soule reioyce in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.

51:29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.

51:30 Worke your worke betimes, & in his time he will giue you your reward.

51:30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.