Sirach 51 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

A Prayer To Give Thanks

¹ I praise you, Lord God, because you are my king, and you rescued me. I give you thanks

² for protection and help when I was in danger from enemies who tried to destroy me with cruel lies.

³ My enemies wanted me dead and were about to gobble me up, but you had pity and rescued me from the trouble they caused.

⁴ I was surrounded by fires they had set, and I could not breathe for the smoke. *

⁵ Death was ready to swallow me, because their filthy lies

⁶ had reached the king. I was standing at the edge of an open grave.

⁷ Enemies surrounded me, and I called for help— but no one came.

⁸ Then, Lord, I remembered your mercy and kindness and how you have always saved those who trusted you when they were attacked by evil people.

⁹ So I prayed and cried out, “Don't let me die!

¹⁰ I am in trouble, facing arrogant enemies with no one to help me. But you are my Lord and Father, so please don't let me down. Rescue me,

¹¹ and I will honor you forever with songs of praise.” I know you heard my prayer,

¹² because you saved me from death and rescued me from danger. That's why I thank you and give you honor and praise. *

Sirach Looked for Wisdom

¹³ When I was young and before I had traveled,

¹⁴ I prayed in the temple courtyard and openly asked for Wisdom. And I will look for her every day of my life.

¹⁵ Now I am old, but ever since I was a child, I have loved Wisdom and always followed her on the path where she walked.

¹⁶ When I listened even a little to what she said, I learned many things.

¹⁷ So I continued to study, and I praise God, who gives me Wisdom.

¹⁸ I chose to live by Wisdom and always do right, and I have never had a reason to be ashamed.

¹⁹ Whenever I had to struggle to follow her completely, I would lift my hands in prayer and tell God I was sorry I knew so little of Wisdom.

²⁰ But I was set on finding her, and I did, by removing sin from my heart. Now, I grow wiser and wiser, and she will never leave me.

²¹ I made the effort to find Wisdom because I really wanted her, and she is worth it all.

²² The Lord also rewarded me with a gift for using words, and so I will use that gift to offer him praise.

²³ If Wisdom is a subject you have never studied, then come to my school.

²⁴ If your desire for her is like a great thirst, why haven't you quenched it?

²⁵ Here is my advice— you cannot buy Wisdom,

²⁶ and you need not travel far. You just have to be willing to do what she says.

²⁷ Studying wisdom has filled my life with peace, and you can see it is worth any effort I have made.

²⁸ And even if learning Wisdom costs you a lot of silver, she will bring you even more in gold.

Celebrate the Mercy of God!

²⁹ Celebrate the mercy of God! Don't be ashamed to tell others how great he is.

³⁰ Work when it is time to work, and God will reward you when the time is right.