¹Oratio Jesu filii Sirach.The prayer of Jesus, the son of Sirach:Confitebor tibi,I will confess to you,Domine rex,O Lord and King,et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.and I will give praise to you, O God my Savior.

¹Oratio Jesu filii Sirach.The prayer of Jesus, the son of Sirach:Confitebor tibi,I will confess to you,Domine rex,O Lord and King,et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.and I will give praise to you, O God my Savior.

²Confitebor nomini tuo,I will acknowledge your name.quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,For you have been my Helper and Protector.

²Confitebor nomini tuo,I will acknowledge your name.quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,For you have been my Helper and Protector.

³et liberasti corpus meum a perditione:And you have freed my body from perdition,a laqueo linguæ iniquæ,from the snare of the iniquitous tongue,et a labiis operantium mendacium:and from the lips of those who forge lies.et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.And you have been my Helper in the sight of those who stood nearby.

³et liberasti corpus meum a perditione:And you have freed my body from perdition,a laqueo linguæ iniquæ,from the snare of the iniquitous tongue,et a labiis operantium mendacium:and from the lips of those who forge lies.et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.And you have been my Helper in the sight of those who stood nearby.

⁴Et liberasti me,And you have freed me according to the multitude of the mercy of your name:secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui,from those who roareda rugientibus præparatis ad escam:and prepared to devour,

⁴Et liberasti me,And you have freed me according to the multitude of the mercy of your name:secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui,from those who roareda rugientibus præparatis ad escam:and prepared to devour,

⁵de manibus quærentium animam meam,from the hands of those who sought my life,et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me;and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,

⁵de manibus quærentium animam meam,from the hands of those who sought my life,et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me;and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,

⁶a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me,from the oppression of the flames that surrounded me,et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus;and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,

⁶a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me,from the oppression of the flames that surrounded me,et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus;and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,

⁷de altitudine ventris inferi,from the depths of the bowels of hell,et a lingua coinquinata,and from the defiled tongue,et a verbo mendacii,and from lying words,a rege iniquo,from an iniquitous king,et a lingua injusta.and from an unjust tongue.

⁷de altitudine ventris inferi,from the depths of the bowels of hell,et a lingua coinquinata,and from the defiled tongue,et a verbo mendacii,and from lying words,a rege iniquo,from an iniquitous king,et a lingua injusta.and from an unjust tongue.

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

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

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

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

¹⁰Circumdederunt me undique,And they surrounded me on every side.et non erat qui adjuvaret:And there was no one who would help me.respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum,I looked around for the assistance of men,et non erat.and there was none.

¹⁰Circumdederunt me undique,And they surrounded me on every side.et non erat qui adjuvaret:And there was no one who would help me.respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum,I looked around for the assistance of men,et non erat.and there was none.

¹¹Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine,Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt:and your works, which are from the very beginning.

¹¹Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine,Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt:and your works, which are from the very beginning.

¹²quoniam eruis sustinentes te,For you rescue those who persevere for you,Domine,O Lord,et liberas eos de manibus gentium.and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.

¹²quoniam eruis sustinentes te,For you rescue those who persevere for you,Domine,O Lord,et liberas eos de manibus gentium.and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.

¹³Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam,You exalted my habitation upon the earth,et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.and I made supplication that death would pass away.

¹³Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam,You exalted my habitation upon the earth,et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.and I made supplication that death would pass away.

¹⁴Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei,I called upon the Lord,ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ,the Father of my Lord,et in tempore superborum,so that he would not abandon me in the day of my tribulation,sine adjutorio.nor in the time of arrogance without assistance.

¹⁴Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei,I called upon the Lord,ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ,the Father of my Lord,et in tempore superborum,so that he would not abandon me in the day of my tribulation,sine adjutorio.nor in the time of arrogance without assistance.

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

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

¹⁶et liberasti me de perditione,And you freed me from perdition,et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.

¹⁶et liberasti me de perditione,And you freed me from perdition,et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.

¹⁷Propterea confitebor,Because of this,et laudem dicam tibi,I will give thanks and praise to you,et benedicam nomini Domini.and I will bless the name of the Lord.

¹⁷Propterea confitebor,Because of this,et laudem dicam tibi,I will give thanks and praise to you,et benedicam nomini Domini.and I will bless the name of the Lord.

¹⁸Cum adhuc junior essem,When I was still young,priusquam oberrarem,before I wandered astray,quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

¹⁸Cum adhuc junior essem,When I was still young,priusquam oberrarem,before I wandered astray,quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

¹⁹Ante templum postulabam pro illis,I asked for her before the temple,et usque in novissimis inquiram eam:and even to the very end, I will inquire after her.et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.And she flourished like a newly-ripened grape.

¹⁹Ante templum postulabam pro illis,I asked for her before the temple,et usque in novissimis inquiram eam:and even to the very end, I will inquire after her.et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.And she flourished like a newly-ripened grape.

²⁰Lætatum est cor meum in ea:My heart rejoiced in her.ambulavit pes meus iter rectum:My feet walked in the right path.a juventute mea investigabam eam.From my youth, I pursued her.

²⁰Lætatum est cor meum in ea:My heart rejoiced in her.ambulavit pes meus iter rectum:My feet walked in the right path.a juventute mea investigabam eam.From my youth, I pursued her.

²¹Inclinavi modico aurem meam,I bent my ear a littleet excepi illam.and accepted her.

²¹Inclinavi modico aurem meam,I bent my ear a littleet excepi illam.and accepted her.

²²Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam,I found much wisdom within myself,et multum profeci in ea.and I benefited greatly by her.

²²Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam,I found much wisdom within myself,et multum profeci in ea.and I benefited greatly by her.

²³Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam:I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.

²³Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam:I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.

²⁴consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam.For I have decided that I should act according to wisdom.Zelatus sum bonum,I have been zealous for what is good,et non confundar.and so I will not be confounded.

²⁴consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam.For I have decided that I should act according to wisdom.Zelatus sum bonum,I have been zealous for what is good,et non confundar.and so I will not be confounded.

²⁵Colluctata est anima mea in illa,My soul has struggled for wisdom,et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.and in doing so, I have been confirmed.

²⁵Colluctata est anima mea in illa,My soul has struggled for wisdom,et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.and in doing so, I have been confirmed.

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

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

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

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

²⁸Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio:From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom.propter hoc,Because of this,non derelinquar.I will not be forsaken.

²⁸Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio:From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom.propter hoc,Because of this,non derelinquar.I will not be forsaken.

²⁹Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam:My stomach was stirred up while seeking her.propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.Because of her, I will hold a good possession.

²⁹Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam:My stomach was stirred up while seeking her.propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.Because of her, I will hold a good possession.

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

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

³¹Appropiate ad me,Draw near to me,indocti,you who are untaught,et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.and gather yourselves into the house of discipline.

³¹Appropiate ad me,Draw near to me,indocti,you who are untaught,et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.and gather yourselves into the house of discipline.

³²Quid adhuc retardatis?Why are you reluctant?et quid dicitis in his?And what do you have to say about these things?animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.Your souls are exceedingly thirsty!

³²Quid adhuc retardatis?Why are you reluctant?et quid dicitis in his?And what do you have to say about these things?animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.Your souls are exceedingly thirsty!

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

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

³⁴et collum vestrum subjicite jugo:and subject your neck to her yoke,et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam:and let your soul accept her discipline.in proximo est enim invenire eam.For she is close enough to be found.

³⁴et collum vestrum subjicite jugo:and subject your neck to her yoke,et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam:and let your soul accept her discipline.in proximo est enim invenire eam.For she is close enough to be found.

³⁵Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi,See with your own eyes how I have labored only a little,et inveni mihi multam requiem.and have found much rest for myself.

³⁵Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi,See with your own eyes how I have labored only a little,et inveni mihi multam requiem.and have found much rest for myself.

³⁶Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti,Take up discipline, as if it were a great sum of money,et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.and possess an abundance of gold in her.

³⁶Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti,Take up discipline, as if it were a great sum of money,et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.and possess an abundance of gold in her.

³⁷Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus,Let your soul rejoice in his mercy.et non confundemini in laude ipsius.For you will not be confounded by his praise.

³⁷Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus,Let your soul rejoice in his mercy.et non confundemini in laude ipsius.For you will not be confounded by his praise.

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

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