Sirach 51

51I will thank Thee, Jahveh, O King,

I will praise Thee, O God of my salvation,

I will declare Thy Name, ⁽Thou⁽ strength of my life;

For Thou hast redeemed my soul from death,

Thou didst keep back my flesh from the Pit,

And from the power of Sheol Thou didst deliver my foot;

Thou didst preserve me from the scourge of a slanderous tongue,

And from the lips of them that turn aside to lies;

Thou wast on my side in the face of those that rose up against me;

Thou didst help me, according to the abundance of Thy mercy,

Out of the snare of those that watch for my stumbling,

And from the hand of those that seek my life;

From manifold troubles didst Thou save me,

And from the straits of the flame round about ⁽me⁽,

From the midst of the fire that I kindled not,

From the deep of the belly of Sheol,

From the lips of wickedness, and from the framers of lies,

And the arrows of a deceitful tongue.

My soul drew nigh unto death,

And my life to the nethermost Sheol.

And I turned about on every side, yer there was none to help me,

And I looked for one to uphold, but there was none.

Then did I remember the loving-kindnesses of Jahveh,

And His mercies which have been from of old,

Who delivereth them that trust in Him,

And redeemeth them from all evil.

And I lifted up my voicefrom the earth,

And cried out for help from the gates of Sheol.

Yea, I cried: ‘O Jahveh, my Father art Thou,

For Thou art the hero of my salvation;

Forsake me not in the day of trouble,

In the day of wasteness and desolation.

I will praise Thy Name continually,

And will sing Thy praise in prayer.’

Then did Jahveh hear my voice,

And gave heed to my supplication;

And He redeemed me from all evil

And delivered mein the day of trouble.

Therefore will I give and offer praise,

And bless the Name of Jahveh:—

i. Give thanks unto Jahveh, for He is good;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

ii. Give thanks to the God of praises;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

iii. Give thanks unto Him that keepeth Israel;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

iv. Give thanks unto Him that formeth all;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

v. Give thanks unto the Redeemer of Israel;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

vi. Give thanks unto Him that gathereth the outcasts of Israel;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

vii. Give thanks unto Him that buildeth His city and His Sanctuary;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

viii. Give thanks unto Him that maketh a horn to sprout for the house of David;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

ix. Give thanks unto Him that chooseth the sons of Zadok to be priests;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

x. Give thanks unto the Shield of Abraham;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

xi. Give thanks unto the Rock of Isaac;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

xii. Give thanks unto the Mighty One of Jacob;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

xiii. Give thanks unto Him that hath chosen Zion;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

xiv. Give thanks unto the King of the kings of kings;

For His mercy endureth for ever.

xv. And He hath lifted up the horn for His people;

The praise of all His pious ones,

xvi. For the children of Israel, a people nigh unto Him, Hallelujah.

When I was yet young, before I wandered abroad,

I desired her and sought her out.

In my youth I made supplication in prayer;

And I will seek her out even to the end.

She blossomed like a ripening grape,

My heart rejoiced in her.

My foot trod in her footstep,

From my youth I learned Wisdom.

I bowed down mine ear a little and received her,

And much knowledge did I find;

And her yoke was glorious to me,

And to my Teacher do I offer thanks.

I purposed to do good ^〈with her^〈,

And I was not put to shame, for I found her.

My soul was attached to her,

And I turned not away my face from her;

I spread forth my hands to the heaven above,

And for ever and ever I will not go astray from her.

My hand opened her gates,

And I entered unto her, and looked upon her.

I set my soul arightafter her,

And I found her in her purity;

I gat me understanding through her guidance.

Therefore I shall not be forsaken.

My inward part was troubledlike an ovento look upon her,

Therefore have I gotten a good possession.

Jahveh gave me the reward of my lips,

And with my tongue do I praise Him.

Turn in unto me, ye unlearned,

And lodge in my house of instruction.

How long will ye lack these things?

And ⁽how long⁽ shall your soul be so athirst?

I open my mouth and speak of her,

Acquire Wisdom for yourselves without money.

Bring your necks under her yoke,

And her burden let your soul bear;

She is nigh unto them that seek her,

And he that is intent ⁽upon her⁽ findeth her.

Behold with your eyes that I laboured but ⁽little⁽ therein,

And abundance of peace have I found.

Hearken to my teaching, ⁽though ye be but⁽ a few,

And much silver and gold shall ye acquire thereby.

May my soul delight in my Yeshibah;

And ye shall not be put to shame in singing my praise.

Work your work in righteousness,

And He will give you your reward in its time.

^[Blessed be Jahveh; and praised be His Name to generations.

Thus far the words of Simeon the son of Jeshua’, who is called Ben-Sira.

The Wisdom of Simeon, the son of Jeshua’, the son of Eleazar, the son of Sira.

May the Name of Jahveh be blessed from now and unto eternity.^[