Iesu Filii Sirach 51
Clementine Vulgate, 1598Translation
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
1Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. [Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.
1A 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.
2Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,
2I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me.
3et liberasti corpus meum a perditione: a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium: et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.
3And 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.
4Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam:
4And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.
5de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me;
5Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:
6a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus;
6From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.
7de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.
7From 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:
8Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,
8My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.
9et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.
9And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.
10Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret: respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.
10They 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.
11Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt:
11I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.
12quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.
12How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
13Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.
13Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.
14Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.
14I 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.
15Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione: et exaudita est oratio mea,
15I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
16et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.
16And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.
17Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.]
17Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.
18[Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.
18When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.
19Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam: et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.
19I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
20Lætatum est cor meum in ea: ambulavit pes meus iter rectum: a juventute mea investigabam eam.
20My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.
21Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.
21I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.
22Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.
22I found much wisdom in myself, and I profited much therein.
23Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam:
23To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.
24consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.
24For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.
25Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.
25My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.
26Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi;
26I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.
27animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.
27I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.
28Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio: propter hoc, non derelinquar.
28I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.
29Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam: propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.
29My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.
30Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.
30The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.
31Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.
31Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline.
32Quid adhuc retardatis? et quid dicitis in his? animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.
32Why are ye slow? and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.
33Aperui os meum, et locutus sum: Comparate vobis sine argento,
33I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,
34et collum vestrum subjicite jugo: et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam: in proximo est enim invenire eam.
34And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.
35Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi, et inveni mihi multam requiem.
35Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.
36Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti, et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.
36Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.
37Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.
37Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be confounded in his praise.
38Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus, et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo.]
38Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.
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