Sirach 51

Wycliffe Bible

51 Lord King, I shall acknowledge to thee; and I shall (al)together praise thee, my Saviour. I shall acknowledge to thy name, [I shall acknowledge to thee, Lord king; and I shall all-praise thee, God my saviour. I shall acknowledge to thy name,]

² for thou art made an helper and defender to me; and thou hast delivered my body from perdition, from the snare of a wicked tongue, and from the lips of them that work a leasing (or a lie); and in the sight of them that stand nigh, thou art made an helper to me.

³ And thou hast delivered me, by the multitude of mercy of thy name, from roarers made ready to (or for) meat; from the hands of them that sought my soul, and from many tribulations that (en)compassed me; [And thou hast delivered me, after the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from the roaring men prepared to meat; from the hands of men seeking my soul, and of many tribulations that environed me;]

⁴ from (the) over-laying of flame that compassed me, and in the midst of (the) fire I was not burnt; [from the tormenting of flame that compassed me, and in the middle of the fire I am not burned out;]

⁵ from the depth of the womb of hell, and from a tongue defouled, (or defiled), and from a word of leasing (or from lying words); [from the height of the womb of hell, and from the defouled tongue, and from the word of leasing;]

⁶ from a wicked king, and from a tongue unjust [or from an unrightwise tongue]. Unto the death, my soul shall praise thee, Lord; and my life was nighing (or approaching) in (or to) hell (or the grave) beneath.

⁷ They compassed me on each side, and none was that helped (me); I was beholding into (or for) the help of men, and none was. [They compassed me on each side, and there was not that would help; beholding I was to (or for) the help of men, and there was not.]

⁸ Lord, I had mind on thy mercy, and on thy working (al)together, that be from the world; for thou deliverest them that abide thee, and thou deliverest them from the hand(s) of heathen men. [I had mind of thy mercy, Lord, and of thy well working, that from the world be; for thou takest out men sustaining thee, and deliverest them from the hand of Gentiles.]

⁹ Thou enhancedest my dwelling on (the) earth; and I besought for death floating down. [Thou enhancedest upon the earth my dwelling; and from death flowing down I lowly prayed.]

¹⁰ I called to help the Lord, (the) father of my Lord (or the Father of my Lord), that he forsake not me in the day of my tribulation, and forsake not me without help, in the time of them that be proud. [I inwardly called the Lord, father of my Lord, that he forsake not me in the day of my tribulation, and in time of proud men, without help.]

¹¹ I shall praise thy name continually, and I shall praise it (al)together in acknowledging; and my prayer is heard. [I shall praise thy name busily, and I shall with-praise it (or altogether praise it) in confession; and full out heard is mine orison.]

¹² And thou hast delivered me from perdition, and thou hast delivered me from the wicked time. Therefore I shall acknowledge, and I shall say praising to thee; and I shall bless the name of the Lord.

¹³ When yet I was younger, before that I erred, or that I wandered, (or before that I travelled abroad), I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

¹⁴ Before the time of eld (age), I asked for it, and unto the last things, I shall inquire (for) it; [Before time I asked for it, and unto the last things I shall greatly seek it;]

¹⁵ and it shall flower as a grape ripe before others. Mine heart was glad therein, my foot went a rightful way; from my youth I sought it. [and it shall flower as a first ripe grape. Mine heart gladded in it, my foot went a right way; from my youth I ensearched it.]

¹⁶ I bowed down a little mine ear, and I took it. I found much wisdom in myself,

¹⁷ and I profited much therein. I shall give glory to him, that giveth wisdom to me. [and much I profited in it. To the (One) giving to me wisdom I shall give glory.]

¹⁸ For why I took counsel to do it; I loved fervently good, (or I fervently loved that which is good), and I shall not be shamed. [I counselled forsooth for to do it; greatly I loved good, and I shall not be confounded.]

¹⁹ My soul wrestled together therein; and I was confirmed in doing it. I stretched forth mine hands on high; and my soul shined in the wisdom of him, and he lightened mine uncunnings (or he enlightened my unknowings, or my ignorances). [My soul wrestled in it; and in doing it I am confirmed. My hands I straight(en)ed out into high; and in the wisdom of him wailed my soul, and mine uncunnings (or my ignorances) he lighted.]

²⁰ I (ad)dressed my soul to it; and I found it in knowing (I directed my soul to it; and I found it in knowledge). I had peaceably from the beginning an heart with those, that is, works either (en)lightenings of wisdom; for this thing I shall not be forsaken. [My soul I right ruled to it; and in knowing I found it. I welded with them (my) heart from the beginning (or I have joined my heart with it from the beginning); for that I shall not be forsaken.]

²¹ My soul was disturbed (or troubled) in seeking it; therefore I shall have peaceably a good possession. [My womb is disturbed in seeking it; therefore good possession I shall wield.]

²² For why the Lord gave to me a tongue (for) my meed (or for my reward); and in it I shall praise him (and I shall praise him with it). [The Lord forsooth gave to me a tongue (for) my meed; and in it I shall praise him.]

²³ Ye untaught men, nigh to (or approach) me; and gather ye you into the house of teaching. [Cometh nigh to me, ye untaught; and gathereth you(rselves) together in the house of discipline.]

²⁴ What tarry ye yet? and what say ye in these things? your souls thirst greatly. [What, yet ye tarry? and what say ye in these things? your souls thirst hugely.]

²⁵ I opened my mouth, and I spake, Buy ye wisdom to you (or for yourselves) without silver,

²⁶ and make your neck subject to the yoke thereof, and your soul receive teaching; for why it is in the next to find it. [and your neck underlayeth to the yoke of it, and your soul undertake discipline; in the next forsooth is to find it.]

²⁷ See ye with your eyes, that I travailed (only) a little, and (then) I found much rest to (or for) me. [Seeth with your eyes, for a little I travailed, and I found to me much rest.]

²⁸ Take ye teaching in (or for) much number of silver, and wield ye plenteous gold therein. [Taketh to discipline in much number of silver, and plenteous gold wieldeth in it.]

²⁹ Your soul be glad in the mercy of him; and ye shall not be (a)shamed in the praising of him. [Glad your soul in the mercy of it; and be ye not confounded in the praising of it.]

³⁰ Work ye your work before the time; and he shall give to you your meed in his time (and he shall give to you your reward in his good time). [Worketh your work before time; and it shall give to you your meed in his time.]