Ecclesiasticus 51:1
I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:
Ecclesiasticus 51:2
For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries:
Ecclesiasticus 51:3
And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of thy mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;
Ecclesiasticus 51:4
From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;
Ecclesiasticus 51:5
From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.
Ecclesiasticus 51:6
By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.
Ecclesiasticus 51:7
They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.
Ecclesiasticus 51:8
Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.
Ecclesiasticus 51:9
Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.
Ecclesiasticus 51:10
I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.
Ecclesiasticus 51:11
I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:
Ecclesiasticus 51:12
For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord.
Ecclesiasticus 51:13
When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.
Ecclesiasticus 51:14
I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.
Ecclesiasticus 51:15
Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her.
Ecclesiasticus 51:16
I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.
Ecclesiasticus 51:17
I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.
Ecclesiasticus 51:18
For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.
Ecclesiasticus 51:19
My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.
Ecclesiasticus 51:20
I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be foresaken.
Ecclesiasticus 51:21
My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.
Ecclesiasticus 51:22
The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.
Ecclesiasticus 51:23
Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.
Ecclesiasticus 51:24
Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?
Ecclesiasticus 51:25
I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.
Ecclesiasticus 51:26
Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.
Ecclesiasticus 51:27
Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.
Ecclesiasticus 51:28
Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.
Ecclesiasticus 51:29
Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.
Ecclesiasticus 51:30
Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.