ECCLESIASTICUS 52

Ecclesiasticus 52

A prayer of Iesus the son of Sirach.

I will confess thee, o Lord and King, and praise thee, o God, my Savior: I give thanks unto thy Name.

For thou art my defender and helper, and hast preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that are occupied with lies: thou hast holpen me against mind adversaries,

And hast delivered me according to the multitude of thy mercy, and for thy Name’s sake, from the roaring 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,

And from the fire that choked me round about, and from the midst of the fire that I burned not,

And from the bosom of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, from lying words, from false accusations to the King, and from the slander of the unrighteous tongue.

[My soul shall praise the Lord unto death:] for my soul drew near unto death: my life was near to the hell beneath.

They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succor of men, but there was none.

Then thought I upon thy mercy, o Lord, and upon thine acts of old, how thou deliver such as wait for thee, and saved them out of the hands of their enemies.

Then lift I up my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.

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 without help.

I will praise thy Name continually, and will sing praise with thanksgiving: and my prayer was heard.

Thou saved me from destruction, and delivered me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks and praise thee, and bless the Name of the Lord.

When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.

I prayed for her before the Temple, and sought after her unto far countries, and she was a grape that waxed ripe out of the flower.

Mine heart rejoiced in her: my foot walked in the right way, and from my youth up sought I after her.

I bowed somewhat down mine ear, and received her, and got much wisdom:

And I profited by her: therefore will I ascribe the glory unto him, that gives me wisdom.

For I am advised to do thereafter: I will be jealous of that that is good: so shall I not be confounded.

My soul hath wrestled with her, and I have examined my works: I lifted up mind hands on high, and considered the ignorances thereof.

I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had mine heart joined with her from the beginning: therefore shall I not be forsaken.

My bowels are troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.

The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, wherewith I will praise him.

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

Wherefore are ye slow? and what say you of these things, seing your souls are very thirsty?

I opened my mouth, and said, By her for you without money.

Bow down your neck under the yoke, and your soul shall receive instruction: she is ready that ye may find her.

Behold with your eyes, how that I have had but little labor, and have gotten unto me much rest.

Get learning with a great sum of money: for by her ye shall possess much gold.

Let your soul rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, and be not ashamed of his praise.

Do your duty betimes, and he will give you a reward at his time.