Ecclesiasticus, 51

1. I shall give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my Saviour, I give thanks to your name;

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. for you have been my guard and support and redeemed my body from destruction, from the snare of the lying tongue, from lips that fabricate falsehood; in the presence of my assailants, you were on my side; you have been my support, you have redeemed me,

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

3. true to your abounding kindness -- and the greatness of your name -- you liberated me from the fangs of those seeking to devour me, from the clutches of those seeking my life, from the many ordeals which I have endured,

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

4. from the stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled,

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

5. from deep in the belly of Sheol,

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

6. treacherous denunciations to the king. My soul has been close to death, my life had gone down to the brink of Sheol.

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

7. I was completely surrounded, there was no one to help me; I looked for someone to help me, there was no one.

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

8. Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your deeds from earliest times, how you deliver those who wait for you patiently, and save them from the clutches of their enemies.

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. And I sent up my plea from the earth, I begged to be delivered from death.

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

10. I called on the Lord, the father of my Lord, 'Do not desert me in the days of ordeal, in the days of the proud, when we are helpless. I shall praise your name unceasingly and gratefully sing its praises.'

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

11. And my plea was heard, for you saved me from destruction, you delivered me from that time of evil.

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. And therefore I shall thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the Lord.

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. When I was still a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.

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

14. Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her.

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

15. From her blossoming to the ripening of her grape my heart has taken its delight in her. My foot has pursued a straight path, I have sought her ever since my youth.

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. By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction.

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. Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom!

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. For I was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shall not be put to shame.

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

19. My soul has fought to possess her, I have been scrupulous in keeping the Law; I have stretched out my hands to heaven and bewailed how little I knew of her;

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. I have directed my soul towards her, and in purity I have found her; having my heart fixed on her from the outset, I shall never be deserted;

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. my very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession.

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

22. In reward the Lord has given me a tongue with which I shall sing his praises.

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. Come close to me, you ignorant, take your place in my school.

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. Why complain about lacking these things when your souls are so thirsty for them?

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

25. I have opened my mouth, I have said: 'Buy her without money,

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

26. put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach.'

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

27. See for yourselves: how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace.

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. Buy instruction with a large sum of silver, thanks to her you will gain much gold.

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

29. May your souls rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, may you never be ashamed of praising him.

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

30. Do your work before the appointed time and at the appointed time he will give you your reward. (Subscript:) Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sira.

30.