Chapter Fifty-One

Prayer of Jesus, son of Sirach

A thanksgiving prayer of Jesus son of Sirach.

Sirach 51:1. I will praise you, Lord King, and I will praise you, God, my Savior; I glorify your name, Sirach 51:2. for you were my protector and helper Sirach 51:3. and delivered my body from destruction and from the snare of a slanderous tongue, from the lips of those who speak falsehood; and against those who rose up against me you were my helper Sirach 51:4. and delivered me, according to the greatness of your mercy and for the sake of your name, from grinding teeth ready to devour me, Sirach 51:5. from the hand of those who sought my life, from many troubles which I had, Sirach 51:6. from the suffocating fire from all sides and from the midst of the flame, in which I was not consumed, Sirach 51:7. from the depths of the belly of the underworld, from an unclean tongue and a false word, from the slander before the king of an unrighteous tongue. 7. From the depths of the belly of the underworld. See vv. 8–17.

Sirach 51:8. My soul was close to death, Sirach 51:9. and my life was near the underworld below: Sirach 51:10. from all sides I was surrounded, and there was no one to help; I sought with my eyes for support from people – and there was none. Sirach 51:11. And I remembered your, Lord, mercy and your works from of old, Sirach 51:12. that you deliver those who hope in you and save them from the hand of enemies. Sirach 51:13. And I lifted up my supplication from the earth and prayed for deliverance from death: Sirach 51:14. I called out to the Lord, Father of my Lord, that he would not abandon me in the days of trouble, when there was no help from haughty people. Sirach 51:15. I will praise your name continually and sing in thanksgiving, for my prayer was heard; Sirach 51:16. you saved me from destruction and delivered me from a terrible time. Sirach 51:17. For this I will praise and bless you and glorify the name of the Lord. Sirach 51:18. While still a youth, before I traveled abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer: Sirach 51:19. in front of the temple I prayed for her, and until the end I will seek her; like blossom from ripening grapes, Sirach 51:20. my heart rejoiced in her; my foot walked a straight path, I followed after her from my youth. Sirach 51:21. Little by little I inclined my ear to her and received her, and I found in her much instruction for myself: Sirach 51:22. I made progress in her. Sirach 51:23. I will give glory to the One who gave me wisdom. Sirach 51:24. I made up my mind to follow her, I zealously pursued what is good, and I will not be ashamed. Sirach 51:25. My soul strove for her, and in my works I was diligent; Sirach 51:26. I stretched out my hands to the height and perceived my ignorance. 26. Knowing my ignorance, I stretched out my hands to the height, asking God to teach me.

Sirach 51:27. I directed my soul to her, and my heart devoted itself to her from the beginning – Sirach 51:28. and I achieved her with purity; therefore I will not be abandoned by her. Sirach 51:29. And my inner being was moved to seek her; therefore I gained a good acquisition. Sirach 51:30. As a reward God gave me a tongue, and with it I will praise him. Sirach 51:31. Draw near to me, you untaught, and lodge in the house of instruction, Sirach 51:32. for you need it, and your souls greatly thirst for it. Sirach 51:33. I open my mouth and say: acquire it for yourselves without silver; 33. Acquire it, that is, wisdom, without silver, that is, not for silver, which by itself will not give wisdom, but by your own efforts and the invocation of divine help (see v. 26–30).

Sirach 51:34. put your neck under her yoke, and let your soul receive instruction; it can be found near. Sirach 51:35. See with your own eyes: I have labored little – and found myself great rest. Sirach 51:36. Acquire instruction at a great price of silver – and you will acquire much gold. 36. If wisdom is itself not purchasable for silver (v. 33) and requires from those who seek it their own unfailing efforts and help from above (vv. 18–30), then meeting living needs and covering expenses during the pursuit of wisdom is certainly not foreign to ordinary monetary expenditure. And these expenses should not trouble those seeking the fruits of wisdom: acquire wisdom – and you will acquire much gold, attain internal and external well-being (see vv. 35–38).

Sirach 51:37. Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and do not be ashamed to praise him; Sirach 51:38. do your work beforehand, and in his own time he will give you your reward.