Sirach 51

A prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Saviour.

Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.

ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι κύριε βασιλεῦ καὶ αἰνέσω σε θεὸν τὸν σωτῆρά μου

I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me.

Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,

ἐξομολογοῦμαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου

And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper.

et liberasti corpus meum a perditione : a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium : et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.

ὅτι σκεπαστὴς καὶ βοηθὸς ἐγένου μοι καὶ ἐλυτρώσω τὸ σῶμά μου ἐξ ἀπωλείας καὶ ἐκ παγίδος διαβολῆς γλώσσης ἀπὸ χειλέων ἐργαζομένων ψεῦδος καὶ ἔναντι τῶν παρεστηκότων ἐγένου βοηθὸς

And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.

Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam :

καὶ ἐλυτρώσω με κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος ἐλέους καὶ ὀνόματός σου ἐκ βρυγμῶν ἕτοιμον εἰς βρῶμα

Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:

de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me;

ἐκ χειρὸς ζητούντων τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ πλειόνων θλίψεων ὧν ἔσχον

From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.

a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus;

ἀπὸ πνιγμοῦ πυρᾶς κυκλόθεν καὶ ἐκ μέσου πυρός οὗ οὐκ ἐξέκαυσα

From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue:

de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.

ἐκ βάθους κοιλίας ᾅδου καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης ἀκαθάρτου καὶ λόγου ψευδοῦς βασιλεῖ διαβολὴ γλώσσης ἀδίκου

My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.

Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,

ἤγγισεν ἕως θανάτου ἡ ψυχή μου

And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.

et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.

καὶ ἡ ζωή μου ἦν σύνεγγυς ᾅδου κάτω

They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there was none.

Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret : respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.

περιέσχον με πάντοθεν καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βοηθῶν ἐνέβλεπον εἰς ἀντίλημψιν ἀνθρώπων καὶ οὐκ ἦν

I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.

Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt :

καὶ ἐμνήσθην τοῦ ἐλέους σου κύριε καὶ τῆς ἐργασίας σου τῆς ἀπ' αἰῶνος

How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.

quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.

ὅτι ἐξαιρῇ τοὺς ὑπομένοντάς σε καὶ σῴζεις αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν

Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.

Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.

καὶ ἀνύψωσα ἀπὸ γῆς ἱκετείαν μου καὶ ὑπὲρ θανάτου ῥύσεως ἐδεήθην

I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help.

Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.

ἐπεκαλεσάμην κύριον πατέρα κυρίου μου μή με ἐγκαταλιπεῖν ἐν ἡμέραις θλίψεως ἐν καιρῷ ὑπερηφανιῶν ἀβοηθησίας

I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.

Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione : et exaudita est oratio mea,

αἰνέσω τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐνδελεχῶς καὶ ὑμνήσω ἐν ἐξομολογήσει καὶ εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς μου

And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.

et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.

ἔσωσας γάρ με ἐξ ἀπωλείας καὶ ἐξείλου με ἐκ καιροῦ πονηροῦ

Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.

Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.

διὰ τοῦτο ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι καὶ αἰνέσω σε καὶ εὐλογήσω τῷ ὀνόματι κυρίου

When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.

Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.

ἔτι ὢν νεώτερος πρὶν ἢ πλανηθῆναί με ἐζήτησα σοφίαν προφανῶς ἐν προσευχῇ μου

I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.

Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam : et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.

ἔναντι ναοῦ ἠξίουν περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτων ἐκζητήσω αὐτήν ἐξ ἄνθους ὡς περκαζούσης σταφυλῆς

My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.

Lætatum est cor meum in ea : ambulavit pes meus iter rectum : a juventute mea investigabam eam.

εὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν αὐτῇ ἐπέβη ὁ πούς μου ἐν εὐθύτητι ἐκ νεότητός μου ἴχνευον αὐτήν

I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.

Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.

ἔκλινα ὀλίγον τὸ οὖς μου καὶ ἐδεξάμην

I found much wisdom in myself, and profited much therein.

Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.

καὶ πολλὴν εὗρον ἐμαυτῷ παιδείαν προκοπὴ ἐγένετό μοι ἐν αὐτῇ

To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.

Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam:

τῷ διδόντι μοι σοφίαν δώσω δόξαν

For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.

consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.

διενοήθην γὰρ τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἐζήλωσα τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ οὐ μὴ αἰσχυνθῶ

My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.

Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.

διαμεμάχισται ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ἐν ποιήσει νόμου διηκριβασάμην

I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.

Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi;

τὰς χεῖράς μου ἐξεπέτασα πρὸς ὕψος καὶ τὰ ἀγνοήματα αὐτῆς ἐπένθησα

I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.

animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.

τὴν ψυχήν μου κατεύθυνα εἰς αὐτὴν

I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.

Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio : propter hoc, non derelinquar.

καὶ ἐν καθαρισμῷ εὗρον αὐτήν καρδίαν ἐκτησάμην μετ' αὐτῆς ἀπ' ἀρχῆς διὰ τοῦτο οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλειφθῶ

My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.

Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam : propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.

καὶ ἡ κοιλία μου ἐταράχθη τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαι αὐτήν διὰ τοῦτο ἐκτησάμην ἀγαθὸν κτῆμα

The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.

Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.

ἔδωκεν κύριος γλῶσσάν μοι μισθόν μου καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ αἰνέσω αὐτόν

Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the hours of discipline.

Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.

ἐγγίσατε πρός με ἀπαίδευτοι καὶ αὐλίσθητε ἐν οἴκῳ παιδείας

Why are ye slow and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.

Quid adhuc retardatis? et quid dicitis in his? animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.

τί ὅτι ὑστερεῖσθαι λέγετε ἐν τούτοις καὶ αἱ ψυχαὶ ὑμῶν διψῶσι σφόδρα

I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,

Aperui os meum, et locutus sum : Comparate vobis sine argento,

ἤνοιξα τὸ στόμα μου καὶ ἐλάλησα κτήσασθε ἑαυτοῖς ἄνευ ἀργυρίου

And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.

et collum vestrum subjicite jugo : et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam : in proximo est enim invenire eam.

τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν ὑπόθετε ὑπὸ ζυγόν καὶ ἐπιδεξάσθω ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν παιδείαν ἐγγύς ἐστιν εὑρεῖν αὐτήν

Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.

Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi, et inveni mihi multam requiem.

ἴδετε ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν ὅτι ὀλίγον ἐκοπίασα καὶ εὗρον ἐμαυτῷ πολλὴν ἀνάπαυσιν

Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.

Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti, et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.

μετάσχετε παιδείας ἐν πολλῷ ἀριθμῷ ἀργυρίου καὶ πολὺν χρυσὸν κτήσασθε ἐν αὐτῇ

Let your soul rejoice in his mercy and you shall not be confounded in his praise.

Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.

εὐφρανθείη ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν ἐν τῷ ἐλέει αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ αἰσχυνθείητε ἐν αἰνέσει αὐτοῦ

Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.

Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus, et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo.

ἐργάζεσθε τὸ ἔργον ὑμῶν πρὸ καιροῦ καὶ δώσει τὸν μισθὸν ὑμῶν ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ