Chapter 51

¹ I will thank thee, O Lord and King,

Sir 51:1

² For thou art my defender and helper,

Sir 51:2

³ And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of thy mercies and greatness of thy name,

Sir 51:3

⁴ From the choking of fire on every side,

Sir 51:4

⁵ From the depth of the belly of hell,

Sir 51:5

⁶ By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue

Sir 51:6

⁷ They compassed me on every side,

Sir 51:7

⁸ Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord,

Sir 51:8

⁹ Then lifted I up my supplication from the earth,

Sir 51:9

¹⁰ I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord,

Sir 51:10

¹¹ I will praise thy name continually,

Sir 51:11

¹² For thou savedst me from destruction,

Sir 51:12

¹³ When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad,

Sir 51:13

¹⁴ I prayed for her before the temple,

Sir 51:14

¹⁵ Even from the flower till the grape was ripe

Sir 51:15

¹⁶ I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her,

Sir 51:16

¹⁷ I profited therein,

Sir 51:17

¹⁸ For I purposed to do after her,

Sir 51:18

¹⁹ My soul hath wrestled with her,

Sir 51:19

²⁰ I directed my soul unto her,

Sir 51:20

²¹ My heart was troubled in seeking her:

Sir 51:21

²² The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward,

Sir 51:22

²³ Draw near unto me, ye unlearned,

Sir 51:23

²⁴ Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye of these things,

Sir 51:24

²⁵ I opened my mouth, and said,

Sir 51:25

²⁶ Put your neck under the yoke,

Sir 51:26

²⁷ Behold with your eyes, how that I have had but little labor,

Sir 51:27

²⁸ Get learning with a great sum of money,

Sir 51:28

²⁹ Let your soul rejoice in his mercy,

Sir 51:29

³⁰ Work your work betimes,

Sir 51:30