The author rendereth praises and thanks to God; 18. and inviteth others to do the same, by his own example, 31. and by earnest exhortation.The auctor rendereth praises and thankes to God; 18. and inuiteth others to do the same, by his owne example, 31. and by earnest exhortation.✦
The prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will confitebor: to confess sins, admit a fault; to acknowledge openly with praise and thanksgiving to thee O Lord king, and will praise thee God my saviour.THE prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach. I wil confesse to thee ô Lord king, and wil praise thee God my sauiour.✦Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.
2I will confess to thy name: because thou art become my helper and protector,I wil confesse to thy name : because thou art become my helper and protectour,✦Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,
3and hast delivered my body from perdition, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that work lying, and in the sight of them that stood up thou art become my helper.and hast deliuered my bodie from perdition, from the snare of an vniust tongue, and from the lippes of them that worke lying, and in the sight of them that stoode vp thou art become my helper.✦et liberasti corpus meum a perditione : a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium : et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.
4And thou hast delivered me according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name from them that did roar, prepared to devour,And thou hast deliuered me according to the multitude of the mercie of thy name from them that did roare, prepared to deuoure,✦Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam :
5out of the hands of them that seek my soul, and from the gates of tribulations which have compassed me:out of the handes of them that seeke my soule, and from the gates of tribulations which haue compassed me:de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me ;
6from the oppression of the flame, which hath compassed me, and in the midst of fire I was not burnt.from the oppression of the flame, which hath compassed me, and in the middes of fire I was not burnt.✦a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus ;
7From the depth of the belly of hell, and from a defiled tongue, and from the word of lying, from a wicked king, and from an unjust tongue:From the depth of the bellie of hel, and from a defiled tongue, and from the word of lying, from a wicked king, and from an vniust tongue:✦de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.
8my soul shall praise our Lord even to death,my soule shal praise our Lord euen to death,✦Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,
9and my life was approaching to hell beneath.and my life was approching to hel beneth.et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.
10They have compassed me on every side, and there was none that would help. I looked toward the help of men, and there was none.They haue compassed me on euerie side, & there was none that would helpe. I looked toward the helpe of men, & there was none.✦Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret : respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.
11I remembered thy mercy O Lord, and thy operatio: a surgical or mechanical procedure; working, deeds, action, which are from the beginning of the world.I remembred thy mercie ô Lord, and thy operation, which are from the beginning of the world.✦Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt :
12Because thou deliverest them that patiently expect thee O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.Because thou deliuerest them that patiently expect thee ô Lord, and sauest them out of the handes of the nations.✦quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.
13Thou hast exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I have prayed for death to pass away.Thou hast exalted my habitation vpon the earth, and I haue prayed for death to passe away.✦Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.
14I have invocavi: called upon, invoked our Lord the father of my Lord, that he leave me not in the day of my tribulation, and in the time of the proud without help.I haue inuocated our Lord the father of my Lord, that he leaue me not in the day of my tribulation, and in the time of the proude without helpe.✦Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.
15I will praise thy name continually, and will collaudabo: to praise together, extol it in confession, and my prayer was heard.I wil praise thy name continually, and wil collaude it in confession, and my prayer was heard.✦Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione : et exaudita est oratio mea,
16And thou hast delivered me from perdition, and hast rescued me from the wicked time.And thou hast deliuered me from perdition, and hast rescued me from the wicked time.✦et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.
17Therefore will I confess, and say praise to thee, and bless the name of our Lord.Therfore wil I confesse, & say praise to thee, and blesse the name of our Lord.✦Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.
18When I was yet young, before I erred, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.When I was yet young, before I erred, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.✦Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.
19Before the temple I prayed for it, and unto the later end I will seek after it, and it shall flourish as the grape timely ripe,Before the temple I prayed for it, and vnto the later end I wil seeke after it, and it shal flourish as the grape timely ripe,✦Ante templum postulabam pro illa, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam : et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.
20my heart hath rejoiced in it, my foot hath walked the right way, from my youth I searched after it.my hart hath reioyced in it, my foote hath walked the right way, from my youth I searched after it.Lætatum est cor meum in ea : ambulavit pes meus iter rectum : a juventute mea investigabam eam.
21I bowed mine ear a little, and received it.I bowed mine eare a litle, and receiued it.✦Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.
22I found much wisdom in myself, and I have much profited therein.I found much wisdom in myself, & I haue much profited therein.✦Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.
23To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.To him that geueth me wisdom, wil I geue glorie.✦Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam :
24For I have consiliatus sum: asked another's advice; took counsel with myself, purposed, resolved to do it: I have had a zeal to good, and shall not be confundar: bewildered, perplexed; put to shame, disappointed of hope.For I haue consulted to doe it: I haue had a zele to good, and shal not be confounded.✦consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.
25My soul hath wrestled in it, and in doing it I was confirmed.My soule hath wrestled in it, and in doing it I was confirmed.Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.
26I stretched forth my hands on high, and I lamented foolishness.I stretched forth my handes on high, & I lamented foolishnes.✦Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi ;
27I directed my soul to wisdom, and in knowledge I found it.I directed my soule to wisdom, and in knowlege I found it.✦animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.
28I possessed with it an heart from the beginning: for this cause I shall not be forsaken.I possessed with it an hart from the beginning: for this cause I shal not be forsaken.✦Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio : propter hoc, non derelinquar.
29My belly was troubled in seeking it: therefore shall I possess a good possession.My bellie was trubled in seeking it: therefore shal I possesse a good possession.✦Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam : propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.
30Our Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with the same I will praise him.Our Lord hath geuen me a tongue for my reward: and with the same I wil praise him.✦Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.
31Approach unto me ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of disciplina: correction, punishment; instruction, teaching, formative training.Approch vnto me ye vnlerned, and gather yourselues together into the house of discipline.✦Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.
32Why slack ye yet? and what say you herein? your souls are exceeding thirsty.Why slacke ye yet? and what say you herein? your soules are exceeding thirstie.✦Quid adhuc retardatis ? et quid dicitis in his ? animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.
33I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: Buy it for you without silver,I haue opened my mouth, and haue spoken: Bye it for you without siluer,✦Aperui os meum, et locutus sum : Comparate vobis sine argento,
34and submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for it is very near to find it.and submit your necke to the yoke, and let your soule receiue discipline: for it is very neere to finde it.✦et collum vestrum subjicite jugo : et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam : in proximo est enim invenire eam.
35See with your eyes that I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.See with your eyes that I haue laboured a litle, and haue found much rest to myself.✦Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi, et inveni mihi multam requiem.
36Take ye discipline in a great sum of silver, and possess abundance of gold in it.Take ye discipline in a great summe of siluer, and possesse abundance of gold in it.✦Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti, et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.
37Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be confounded in praise.Let your soule reioyce in his mercie, and you shal not be confounded in praise.✦Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.
38Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.Worke your worke before the time, and he wil geue you your reward in his time.✦Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus, et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.