Anonymous (Septuagint) · a new plain-English translation from the original language
1| A prayer of Jesus son of Sirach. I will give you thanks, Lord and King, and I will praise you, God my savior; I give thanks to your name,
2| for you became a shelter and a helper to me, and you rescued this body of mine out of ruin and clear of the trap set by a slandering tongue, from lips that fashion lies, and before those standing by you became a helper,
3| and you ransomed me, according to the abundance of your mercy and of your name, from the gnashing teeth ready to devour, from the hand of those seeking my life, from the many afflictions I had,
4| from the choking of a fire all around, and from the midst of a fire that I did not kindle,
5| from the depth of the belly of Hades, and from an unclean tongue and a lying word.
6| Slander of an unjust tongue reached the king; my soul praised him even unto death, and my life drew near to Hades below.
7| They hemmed me in on every side, with no one there to help; I looked for the support of men, and there was none.
8| Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your work from ages past, that you rescue those who wait for you and save them from the hand of the nations.
9| And I raised my supplication up from the earth, and I begged for rescue from death;
10| I cried out to the Lord, Father of my own Lord, not to abandon me in the days of affliction, in a time when the arrogant were helpless against me.
11| I will praise your name continually, and I will sing hymns in thanksgiving; and my plea was heard.
12| For you saved me from destruction, and you rescued me from an evil time; therefore I will give thanks and praise you, and I will bless the name of the Lord.
13| While I was still young, before I went astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer;
14| before the temple I asked for her, and to the very end I will seek her out.
15| From her blossom, like a grape coming to ripeness, my heart rejoiced in her; my foot walked in uprightness, from my youth I tracked her steps.
16| I bent my ear a little and received her, and I found for myself much instruction;
17| I made progress through her; to the one who gives me wisdom I will give glory.
18| For I resolved to put her into practice, and I was zealous for the good, and I shall not be put to shame.
19| My soul struggled fiercely for her, and in the practice of her law I was exact; I stretched out my hands to the heights, and I mourned my ignorance of her;
20| I directed my soul toward her, and I gained a pure heart through her from the beginning, and in purity I found her; therefore I shall not be abandoned.
21| And my innermost being was stirred to seek her out; therefore I have gained her as a good possession.
22| The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, and with it I will praise him.
23| Draw near to me, you who are untaught, and lodge in the house of instruction.
24| Why do you say you lack these things, and why do your souls thirst so greatly?
25| I opened my mouth and spoke: Acquire her for yourselves without money;
26| bend your neck to bear the yoke, and let your soul take in her teaching; she lies near at hand, waiting to be found.
27| See with your own eyes that I labored but little, and I found for myself much rest.
28| Take a share of instruction with a great sum of silver, and gain through her much gold;
29| may your soul rejoice in his mercy, and may you not be ashamed to praise him;
30| do your work before the appointed time, and he will give you your reward in his own time.