1   The prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach. ^noteI wil confesse to thee ô Lord king, and wil praise thee God my sauiour.

2   I wil confesse to thy name: because thou art become my helper and protectour,

3   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.

4   And thou hast deliuered me according to the multitude of the mercie of thy name from them that did roare, prepared to deuoure,

5   out of the handes of them that seeke my soule, and from the gates of tribulations which haue compassed me:

6   from the oppression of the flame, which hath compassed me, and in the middes of fire I was not burnt.

7   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:

8   my soule shal praise our Lord euen to death,

9   and my life was approching to hel beneth.

10   They haue compassed me on euerie side, & there was none that would helpe. I looked toward the helpe of men, & there was none.

11   I remembred thy mercie ô Lord, and thy operation, which are from the beginning of the world.

12   Because thou deliuerest them that patiently expect thee ô Lord, and sauest them out of the handes of the nations.

13   Thou hast exalted my habitation vpon the earth, and I haue prayed for death to passe away.

14   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.

15   I wil praise thy name continually, and wil collaude it in confession, and my prayer was heard.

16   And thou hast deliuered me from perdition, and hast rescued me from the wicked time.

17   Therfore wil I confesse, & say praise to thee, and blesse the name of our Lord.

18   When I was yet ^note young, before I erred, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.

19   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,

20   my hart hath reioyced in it, my foote hath walked the right way, from my youth I searched after it.

21   I bowed mine eare a litle, and receiued it.

22   I found much wisdom in myself, & I haue much profited therein.

23   To him that geueth me wisdom, wil I geue glorie.

24   For I haue consulted to doe it: I haue had a zele to good, and shal not be confounded.

25   My soule hath wrestled in it, and in doing it I was confirmed...

26   I stretched forth my handes on high, & I lamented foolishnes.

27   I directed my soule to wisdom, and in knowlege I found it.

28   I possessed with it an hart from the beginning: for this cause I shal not be forsaken.

29   My bellie was trubled in seeking it: therefore shal I possesse a good possession.

30   Our Lord hath geuen me a tongue for my reward: and with the same I wil praise him.

31   Approch vnto me ye vnlerned, and gather yourselues together into the house of discipline.

32   Why slacke ye yet? and what say you herein? your soules are exceeding thirstie.

33   I haue opened my mouth, and haue spoken: Bye it for you without siluer,

34   and submit your necke to the yoke, and let your soule receiue discipline: for it is very neere to finde it.

35   See with your eyes that I haue laboured a litle, and haue found much rest to myself.

36   Take ye discipline ^note in a great summe of siluer, and possesse abundance of gold in it.

37   Let your soule reioyce in his mercie, and you shal not be confounded in praise.

39   Worke your worke ^note before the time, and he wil geue you your reward in his time. The end of the Sapiential Bookes.

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