Sirach 51
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Prayer of Jesus Son of Sirach[a]
51 I give you thanks, O Lord and King,
and praise you, O God my Saviour.
I give thanks to your name,
2 for you have been my protector and helper
and have delivered me from destruction
and from the trap laid by a slanderous tongue,
from lips that fabricate lies.
In the face of my adversaries
you have been my helper 3 and delivered me,
in the greatness of your mercy and of your name,
from grinding teeth about to devour me,
from the hand of those seeking my life,
from the many troubles I endured,
4 from choking fire on every side,
and from the midst of fire that I had not kindled,
5 from the deep belly of Hades,
from an unclean tongue and lying words—
6 the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king.
My soul drew near to death,
and my life was on the brink of Hades below.
7 They surrounded me on every side,
and there was no one to help me;
I looked for human assistance,
and there was none.
8 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,
and your kindness[b] from of old,
for you rescue those who wait for you
and save them from the hand of their enemies.
9 And I sent up my prayer from the earth,
and begged for rescue from death.
10 I cried out, ‘Lord, you are my Father;[c]
do not forsake me in the days of trouble,
when there is no help against the proud.
11 I will praise your name continually,
and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.’
My prayer was heard,
12 for you saved me from destruction
and rescued me in time of trouble.
For this reason I thank you and praise you,
and I bless the name of the Lord.
Hebrew adds:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the God of praises,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the guardian of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to him who formed all things,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the redeemer of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to him who gathers the dispersed of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to him who rebuilt his city and his sanctuary,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to him who makes a horn to sprout for the house of David,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to him who has chosen the sons of Zadok to be priests,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the shield of Abraham,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the rock of Isaac,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the mighty one of Jacob,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to him who has chosen Zion,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Give thanks to the King of the kings of kings,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his loyal ones.
For the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Autobiographical Poem on Wisdom
13 While I was still young, before I went on my travels,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
14 Before the temple I asked for her,
and I will search for her until the end.
15 From the first blossom to the ripening grape
my heart delighted in her;
my foot walked on the straight path;
from my youth I followed her steps.
16 I inclined my ear a little and received her,
and I found for myself much instruction.
17 I made progress in her;
to him who gives wisdom I will give glory.
18 For I resolved to live according to wisdom,[d]
and I was zealous for the good,
and I shall never be disappointed.
19 My soul grappled with wisdom,[e]
and in my conduct I was strict;[f]
I spread out my hands to the heavens,
and lamented my ignorance of her.
20 I directed my soul to her,
and in purity I found her.
With her I gained understanding from the first;
therefore I will never be forsaken.
21 My heart was stirred to seek her;
therefore I have gained a prize possession.
22 The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,
and I will praise him with it.
23 Draw near to me, you who are uneducated,
and lodge in the house of instruction.
24 Why do you say you are lacking in these things,[g]
and why do you endure such great thirst?
25 I opened my mouth and said,
Acquire wisdom[h] for yourselves without money.
26 Put your neck under her[i] yoke,
and let your souls receive instruction;
it is to be found close by.
27 See with your own eyes that I have laboured but little
and found for myself much serenity.
28 Hear but a little of my instruction,
and through me you will acquire silver and gold.[j]
29 May your soul rejoice in God’s[k] mercy,
and may you never be ashamed to praise him.
30 Do your work in good time,
and in his own time God[l] will give you your reward.
Footnotes
- Sirach 51:1 This title is included in the Gk text.
- Sirach 51:8 Other ancient authorities read work
- Sirach 51:10 Heb: Gk the Father of my lord
- Sirach 51:18 Gk her
- Sirach 51:19 Gk her
- Sirach 51:19 Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Sirach 51:24 Cn Compare Heb Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Sirach 51:25 Heb: Gk lacks wisdom
- Sirach 51:26 Heb: other ancient authorities read the
- Sirach 51:28 Syr Compare Heb: Gk Get instruction with a large sum of silver, and you will gain by it much gold.
- Sirach 51:29 Gk his
- Sirach 51:30 Gk he
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.]
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas