✠ The Douay-Rheims Bible
✠ Sirach 51
Chapters
SIR 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.
SIR 51:2 I will give glory to thy name: for thou best been a helper and protector to me.
SIR 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.
SIR 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.
SIR 51:5 Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:
SIR 51:6 From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.
SIR 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:
SIR 51:8 My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.
SIR 51:9 And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.
SIR 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.
SIR 51:11 I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.
SIR 51:12 How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
SIR 51:13 Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.
SIR 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.
SIR 51:15 I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
SIR 51:16 And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.
SIR 51:17 Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.
SIR 51:18 When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.
SIR 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.
SIR 51:20 My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.
SIR 51:21 I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.
SIR 51:22 I found much wisdom in myself, and I profited much therein.
SIR 51:23 To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.
SIR 51:24 For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.
SIR 51:25 My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.
SIR 51:26 I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.
SIR 51:27 I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.
SIR 51:28 I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.
SIR 51:29 My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.
SIR 51:30 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.
SIR 51:31 Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline.
SIR 51:32 Why are ye slow? and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.
SIR 51:33 I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,
SIR 51:34 And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.
SIR 51:35 Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.
SIR 51:36 Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.
SIR 51:37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be confounded in his praise.