Sirach 51

Sirach 51, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. The prayer of Jesus, the son of Sirach: I will confess to you, O Lord and King, and I will give praise to you, O God my Savior.

   Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.

2. 2

   I will acknowledge your name. For you have been my Helper and Protector.

   Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,

3. 3

   And you have freed my body from perdition, from the snare of the iniquitous tongue, and from the lips of those who forge lies. And you have been my Helper in the sight of those who stood nearby.

   et liberasti corpus meum a perditione: a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium: et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.

4. 4

   And you have freed me according to the multitude of the mercy of your name: from those who roared and prepared to devour,

   Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam:

5. 5

   from the hands of those who sought my life, and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,

   de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me;

6. 6

   from the oppression of the flames that surrounded me, and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,

   a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus;

7. 7

   from the depths of the bowels of hell, and from the defiled tongue, and from lying words, from an iniquitous king, and from an unjust tongue.

   de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.

8. 8

   My soul shall praise the Lord, even unto death.

   Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,

9. 9

   For my life was drawing near to hell below.

   et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.

10. 10

    And they surrounded me on every side. And there was no one who would help me. I looked around for the assistance of men, and there was none.

    Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret: respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.

11. 11

    Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your works, which are from the very beginning.

    Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt:

12. 12

    For you rescue those who persevere for you, O Lord, and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.

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

13. 13

    You exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I made supplication that death would pass away.

    Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.

14. 14

    I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, so that he would not abandon me in the day of my tribulation, nor in the time of arrogance without assistance.

    Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.

15. 15

    I will praise your name unceasingly, and I will praise it with thanksgiving, for my prayer was heeded.

    Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione: et exaudita est oratio mea,

16. 16

    And you freed me from perdition, and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.

    et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.

17. 17

    Because of this, I will give thanks and praise to you, and I will bless the name of the Lord.

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

18. 18

    When I was still young, before I wandered astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

    Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.

19. 19

    I asked for her before the temple, and even to the very end, I will inquire after her. And she flourished like a newly-ripened grape.

    Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam: et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.

20. 20

    My heart rejoiced in her. My feet walked in the right path. From my youth, I pursued her.

    Lætatum est cor meum in ea: ambulavit pes meus iter rectum: a juventute mea investigabam eam.

21. 21

    I bent my ear a little and accepted her.

    Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.

22. 22

    I found much wisdom within myself, and I benefited greatly by her.

    Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.

23. 23

    I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.

    Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam:

24. 24

    For I have decided that I should act according to wisdom. I have been zealous for what is good, and so I will not be confounded.

    consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.

25. 25

    My soul has struggled for wisdom, and in doing so, I have been confirmed.

    Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.

26. 26

    I extended my hands on high, and I mourned my ignorance of her.

    Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi;

27. 27

    I directed my soul toward her, and I found her within knowledge.

    animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.

28. 28

    From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom. Because of this, I will not be forsaken.

    Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio: propter hoc, non derelinquar.

29. 29

    My stomach was stirred up while seeking her. Because of her, I will hold a good possession.

    Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam: propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.

30. 30

    The Lord has given me a tongue as my reward, and I will praise him with it.

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

31. 31

    Draw near to me, you who are untaught, and gather yourselves into the house of discipline.

    Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.

32. 32

    Why are you reluctant? And what do you have to say about these things? Your souls are exceedingly thirsty!

    Quid adhuc retardatis? et quid dicitis in his? animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.

33. 33

    I have opened my mouth, and I have spoken. Buy wisdom for yourselves without silver,

    Aperui os meum, et locutus sum: Comparate vobis sine argento,

34. 34

    and subject your neck to her yoke, and let your soul accept her discipline. For she is close enough to be found.

    et collum vestrum subjicite jugo: et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam: in proximo est enim invenire eam.

35. 35

    See with your own eyes how I have labored only a little, and have found much rest for myself.

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

36. 36

    Take up discipline, as if it were a great sum of money, and possess an abundance of gold in her.

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

37. 37

    Let your soul rejoice in his mercy. For you will not be confounded by his praise.

    Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.

38. 38

    Accomplish your work before the time. And he will give you your reward in his time.

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

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)