51:1 oratio Iesu filii Sirach confitebor tibi Domine rex et conlaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum

51:1 A prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Saviour.

51:2 confiteor nomini tuo quoniam adiutor et protector factus es mihi

51:2 I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me.

51:3 et liberasti corpus meum a perditione a laqueo linguae iniquae et a labiis operantium mendacium et in conspectu adstantium factus es mihi adiutor

51:3 And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper.

51:4 et liberasti me secundum multitudinem misericordiae nominis tui a rugientibus paratis ad escam

51:4 And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.

51:5 de manibus quaerentium animam meam et de portis tribulationis quae circumdederunt me

51:5 Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:

51:6 a pressura flammae quae circumdedit me et in medio ignis non sum aestuatus

51:6 From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.

51:7 de altitudine ventris inferi et a lingua coinquinata et verbo mendacii a rege iniquo et lingua iniusta

51:7 From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue:

51:8 laudavit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum

51:8 My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.

51:9 et vita mea adpropinquans erat infero deorsum

51:9 And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.

51:10 circumdederunt me undique et non erat qui adiuvaret respiciens eram ad adiutorium meum et non erat

51:10 They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there was none.

51:11 memoratus sum misericordiae tuae Domine et operationis tuae quae a saeculo sunt

51:11 I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.

51:12 quoniam erues sustinentes te et liberas eos de manibus gentium

51:12 How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.

51:13 exaltasti super terram habitationem meam et pro morte defluenti deprecatus sum

51:13 Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.

51:14 invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meae et in tempore superborum sine adiutorio

51:14 I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help.

51:15 laudabo nomen tuum adsidue et conlaudabo illum in confessione exaudita est oratio mea

51:15 I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.

51:16 liberasti me de perditione et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo

51:16 And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.

51:17 propterea confitebor et laudem dicam tibi et benedicam nomen Domini

51:17 Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.

51:18 cum adhuc iunior sum priusquam oberrem quaesivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea

51:18 When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.

51:19 ante tempus postulabam pro illa et usque in novissimis inquiram eam defloriet tamquam praecox uva

51:19 I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.

51:20 laetatum est cor meum in ea ambulavit pes meus iter rectum a iuventute mea investigabam eam

51:20 My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.

51:21 inclinavi modice aurem meam et excepi illam

51:21 I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.

51:22 multam inveni in me ipso sapientiam multum profeci in ea

51:22 I found much wisdom in myself, and profited much therein.

51:23 dans mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam

51:23 To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.

51:24 consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam zelatus sum bonum et non confundor

51:24 For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.

51:25 conluctata est anima mea in illa et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum

51:25 My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.

51:26 manus meas extendi in altum et insapientia eius luxi

51:26 I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.

51:27 animam meam direxi ad illam et in agnitione inveni eam

51:27 I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.

51:28 possedi cum ipsis cor ab initio propter hoc non derelinquar

51:28 I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.

51:29 venter meus conturbatus est quaerendo illam propterea possidebo bonam possessionem

51:29 My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.

51:30 dedit enim mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam et in ipsa laudabo eum

51:30 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.

51:31 adpropiate ad me indocti et congregate vos in domum disciplinae

51:31 Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the hours of discipline.

51:32 quid adhuc retardatis et quid dicitis in his animae vestrae sitiunt vehementer

51:32 Why are ye slow and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.

51:33 aperui os meum et locutus sum conparate vobis sine argento

51:33 I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,

51:34 et collum vestrum subicite sub iugo et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam in proximo est enim invenire eam

51:34 And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.

51:35 videte oculis vestris quoniam modice laboravi et inveni mihi multam requiem

51:35 Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.

51:36 adsumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti et copiosum aurum possidete in ea

51:36 Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.

51:37 laetetur anima vestra in misericordia eius et non confundemini in laude ipsius

51:37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy and you shall not be confounded in his praise.

51:38 operamini opus vestrum ante tempus et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo

51:38 Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.