Ecclesiasticus, 51

1. I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:

1. I will give thanks to you, O Lord and King; I praise you, my God and Savior, I give thanks to your Name.

2. For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries:

2. For you are my protector and helper, you have delivered my body from destruction, from the snare of the wicked tongue and from lips that speak lies. In the presence of those who stood against me, you were my helper, my deliverer.

3. And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth 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;

3. In the fullness of mercy and the glory of your Name, you delivered me from the teeth of those ready to devour me, from the hand of those wanting to take my life and from my many trials.

4. From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;

4. You rescued me from choking fire on every side; you saved me from a fire I had not kindled.

5. From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.

5. You delivered me from the depths of the netherworld, from an impure tongue and lying words,

6. By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.

6. from vicious slander reported to the king. I was near to death, I was already at the gates of the netherworld.

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

7. They surrounded me on every side with no one to help me. I looked for human comfort and there was none.

8. Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.

8. Then, Lord, I remembered your mercy and your deeds from all eternity, knowing that you deliver those who hope in you and save them from the hands of their enemies.

9. Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.

9. I sent up my prayer from the earth, begging to be delivered from death.

10. 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, when there was no help.

10. I called on the Lord, the Father of my Lord: "Do not forsake me in the day of my affliction, when I am helpless against arrogant enemies; I will praise your name continually and sing to you my thanksgiving."

11. I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:

11. And my prayer was heard, you saved me from destruction and delivered me from an evil plight.

12. For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord.

12. That is why I will give you thanks and praise and bless the Name of the Lord.

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

13. In my youth, before I set out on my travels, I openly sought wisdom in prayer;

14. I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.

14. before the Temple I asked for her and I will pursue her to the end of my days.

15. Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her.

15. While she blossomed like a ripening cluster, my heart was delighted in her; my feet followed the right path, because from my youth I searched for her.

16. I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.

16. As soon as I began listening to her she was given to me, and with her, much instruction.

17. I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.

17. With her help I made progress and I will glorify him who gives me wisdom,

18. For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.

18. for I decided to put it into practice and ardently seek what is good. I shall not regret it.

19. My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.

19. My soul has struggled to possess her. I have been attentive to observe the Law, and after my faults I have stretched out my hands to heaven and lamented my ignorance of her.

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

20. My love of her increased and I found her in repentance. It was through her from the beginning that I learned to possess my heart. She will not forsake me.

21. My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.

21. With my whole being I sought her; that is why I won what is best.

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

22. In return for this, the Lord has given me words to praise him.

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

23. come near, you who are without understanding and join her school.

24. Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?

24. Why do you say you are deprived of all this and that your souls are thirsty?

25. I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.

25. This is what I say: Buy this without money;

26. Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.

26. put your neck under her yoke and let your minds receive instruction; it is very near and within your reach.

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

27. See for yourselves: my toil has been slight and I found deep rest.

28. Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.

28. Be instructed, whatever the cost, and you will gain what is better than gold.

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

29. Let your soul find joy in the mercy of the Lord, and do not be ashamed to praise him.

30. Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward. .

30. Do your work within the appointed time, and the Lord in his time will give you your reward.