Liber Ecclesiasticus, 51

1. Oratio Iesu filii Sirach. “Confitebor tibi, Domine rex; et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.

1. The leader of his brethren and the pride of his people was Simon the high priest, son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.

2. Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adiutor et protector factus es mihi

2. He laid the foundations for the high double walls, the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.

3. et liberasti corpus meum a perditione, a laqueo linguae iniquae et a labiis operantium mendacium, et in conspectu insurgentium factus es mihi adiutor.

3. In his days a cistern for water was quarried out, a reservoir like the sea in circumference.

4. Et liberasti me, secundum magnitudinem misericordiae et nominis tui, a laqueis praeparatis ad escam,

4. He considered how to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city to withstand a seige.

5. de manibus quaerentium animam meam et de multis tribulationibus, quae circumdederunt me,

5. How glorious he was when the people gathered round him as he came out of the inner sanctuary!

6. a pressura flammae, quae circumdedit me, et de medio ignis, ubi non sum aestuatus;

6. Like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon when it is full;

7. de altitudine ventris inferi et a lingua coinquinata et a verbo mendacii, a iaculo linguae iniustae.

7. like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High, and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds;

8. Appropinquavit usque ad mortem anima mea,

8. like roses in the days of the first fruits, like lilies by a spring of water, like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day;

9. et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.

9. like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of hammered gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones;

10. Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adiuvaret; respiciens eram ad adiutorium hominum, et non erat.

10. like an olive tree putting forth its fruit, and like a cypress towering in the clouds.

11. Memoratus autem sum misericordiae tuae, Domine, et operationis tuae, quae a saeculo est,

11. When he put on his glorious robe and clothed himself with superb perfection and went up to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.

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

12. And when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar with a garland of brethren around him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon; and they surrounded him like the trunks of palm trees,

13. Exaltavi de terra supplicationem meam et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.

13. all the sons of Aaron in their splendor with the Lord's offering in their hands, before the whole congregation of Israel.

14. Invocavi Dominum: “Pater meus es tu, ne derelinquas me in die tribulationis meae et in tempore superborum sine adiutorio.

14. Finishing the service at the altars, and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty,

15. Laudabo nomen tuum assidue et collaudabo illud in confessione”. Et exaudita est oratio mea.

15. he reached out his hand to the cup and poured a libation of the blood of the grape; he poured it out at the foot of the altar, a pleasing odor to the Most High, the King of all.

16. Et liberasti me de perditione et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.

16. Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded the trumpets of hammered work, they made a great noise to be heard for remembrance before the Most High.

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

17. Then all the people together made haste and fell to the ground upon their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

18. Cum adhuc iunior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quaesivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea;

18. And the singers praised him with their voices in sweet and full-toned melody.

19. ante templum postulabam pro illa et usque in novissimis inquiram eam, et effloruit tamquam praecox uva.

19. And the people besought the Lord Most High in prayer before him who is merciful, till the order of worship of the Lord was ended; so they completed his service.

20. Laetatum est cor meum in ea, ambulavit pes meus iter rectum; a iuventute mea investigabam eam.

20. Then Simon came down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name;

21. Inclinavi modice aurem meam et excepi illam

21. and they bowed down in worship a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.

22. et multam inveni mihimetipsi sapientiam et multum profeci in ea:

22. And now bless the God of all, who in every way does great things; who exalts our days from birth, and deals with us according to his mercy.

23. danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam.

23. May he give us gladness of heart, and grant that peace may be in our days in Israel, as in the days of old.

24. Consiliatus sum enim, ut facerem illam; et quaesivi bonum et non confundar.

24. May he entrust to us his mercy! And let him deliver us in our days!

25. Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo legem diligens fui.

25. With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation:

26. Manus meas extendi in altum et incognoscibilia eius intellexi.

26. Those who live on Mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the foolish people that dwell in Shechem.

27. Animam meam direxi ad illam et in purificatione inveni eam.

27. Instruction in understanding and knowledge I have written in this book, Jesus the son of Sirach, son of Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

28. Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio; propter hoc non derelinquar.

28. Blessed is he who concerns himself with these things, and he who lays them to heart will become wise.

29. Venter meus conturbatus est quaerendo illam; propterea bonam possedi possessionem.

29. For if he does them, he will be strong for all things, for the light of the Lord is his path.

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

30.

31. Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domo disciplinae.

31.

32. Quid adhuc retardatis in his, dum animae vestrae sitiunt vehementer?

32.

33. Aperui os meum et locutus sum: “Comparate vobis sine argento

33.

34. et collum vestrum subicite iugo, et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam: in proximo est enim invenire eam.

34.

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

35.

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

36.

37. Laetetur anima vestra in misericordia eius, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.

37.

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

38.