A prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

 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.
Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.

 2 I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me.
Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,

 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.
et liberasti corpus meum a perditione : a laqueo linguae iniquae, et a labiis operantium mendacium : et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.

 4 And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.
Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiae nominis tui, a rugientibus praeparatis ad escam :

 5 Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:
de manibus quaerentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quae circumdederunt me;

 6 From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.
a pressura flammae quae circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum aestuatus;

 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:
de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.

 8 My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.
Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,

 9 And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.
et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.

 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.
Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret : respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.

 11 I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.
Memoratus sum misericordiae tuae Domine, et operationis tuae, quae a saeculo sunt :

 12 How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.

 13 Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.
Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.

 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.
Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meae, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.

 15 I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione : et exaudita est oratio mea,

 16 And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.
et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.

 17 Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.
Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.

 18 When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.
Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quaesivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.

 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.
Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam : et effloruit tamquam praecox uva.

 20 My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.
Laetatum est cor meum in ea : ambulavit pes meus iter rectum : a juventute mea investigabam eam.

 21 I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.
Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.

 22 I found much wisdom in myself, and I profited much therein.
Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.

 23 To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.
Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam :

 24 For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.
consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.

 25 My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.
Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.

 26 I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.
Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi;

 27 I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.
animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.

 28 I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.
Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio : propter hoc, non derelinquar.

 29 My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.
Venter meus conturbatus est quaerendo illam : propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.

 30 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.
Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.

 31 Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline.
Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinae.

 32 Why are ye slow? and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.
Quid adhuc retardatis? et quid dicitis in his? animae vestrae sitiunt vehementer.

 33 I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,
Aperui os meum, et locutus sum : Comparate vobis sine argento,

 34 And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.
et collum vestrum subjicite jugo : et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam : in proximo est enim invenire eam.

 35 Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.
Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi, et inveni mihi multam requiem.

 36 Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.
Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti, et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.

 37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be confounded in his praise.
Laetetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.

 38 Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.
Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus, et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo.