Liber Ecclesiasticus

Oratio Jesu filii Sirach. Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, et collaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum.

A 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.

Oratione de Iesu de filio Sirach. Confite ad te, Domino rege, et collauda te Deo salvatore meo.

Confitebor nomini tuo, quoniam adjutor et protector factus es mihi,

I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me.

Confite ad nomine tuo, quia adiutore et protectore facto es ad me,

et liberasti corpus meum a perditione: a laqueo linguæ iniquæ, et a labiis operantium mendacium: et in conspectu astantium factus es mihi adjutor.

And 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.

Et libera corpore meo ab perditione: ab laqueo de lingua iniquo, et ab labios operor mendacio: et in conspectu asta facto es ad me adiutore.

Et liberasti me, secundum multitudinem misericordiæ nominis tui, a rugientibus præparatis ad escam:

And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.

Et libera me, secundo multitudine de misericordia de nomine tuo, ab rugie praepara ad esca:

de manibus quærentium animam meam, et de portis tribulationum quæ circumdederunt me;

Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:

De manus quaere anima meo, et de portas de tribulationes que circumda me;

a pressura flammæ quæ circumdedit me, et in medio ignis non sum æstuatus;

From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.

Ab pressura de flamma que circumda me, et in medio de igni non es aestua;

de altitudine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquinata, et a verbo mendacii, a rege iniquo, et a lingua injusta.

From 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:

De altitudine de ventre de inferno, et ab lingua coinquina, et ab verbo de mendacio, ab rege iniquo, et ab lingua iniusta.

Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum,

My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.

Anima usque ad morte meo lauda Domino,

et vita mea appropinquans erat in inferno deorsum.

And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.

Et vita meo appropinqua es in inferno deorsum.

Circumdederunt me undique, et non erat qui adjuvaret: respiciens eram ad adjutorium hominum, et non erat.

They 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.

Circumda me undique, et non es qui adiuva: respice es ad adiutorio de homines, et non es.

Memoratus sum misericordiæ tuæ Domine, et operationis tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt:

I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world.

Memorato es de misericordia tuo Domino, et de operatione tuo, que ab saeculo es:

quoniam eruis sustinentes te, Domine, et liberas eos de manibus gentium.

How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.

Quia erue sustine te, Domino, et libro illos de manus de gentes.

Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam, et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum.

Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away.

Exaltasto super terra habitatione meo, et pro morte deflue depreca es.

Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei, ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meæ, et in tempore superborum, sine adjutorio.

I 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.

Invoca Domino patre de Domino meo, ut non derelinque me in die de tribulatione meo, et in tempore superbo, sine adiutorio.

Laudabo nomen tuum assidue, et collaudabo illud in confessione: et exaudita est oratio mea,

I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.

Lauda nomine tuo assidue, et collauda illo in confessione: et exaudi es oratione meo,

et liberasti me de perditione, et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo.

And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time.

Et libera me de perditione, et eripe me de tempore iniquo.

Propterea confitebor, et laudem dicam tibi, et benedicam nomini Domini.

Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.

Propter hoc confite, et laude dic ad te, et benedic ad nomine de Domino.

Cum adhuc junior essem, priusquam oberrarem, quæsivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea.

When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer.

Cum adhuc iuvene es, antequam oberra, quaere sapientia palam in oratione meo.

Ante templum postulabam pro illis, et usque in novissimis inquiram eam: et effloruit tamquam præcox uva.

I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.

Ante templo postula pro illos, et usque in novissimo inquire illa: et effla sicut praecoce uva.

Lætatum est cor meum in ea: ambulavit pes meus iter rectum: a juventute mea investigabam eam.

My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her.

Laetato es corde meo in illa: pede meo ambula itinere rectus: ab iuventute meo investiga illa.

Inclinavi modico aurem meam, et excepi illam.

I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.

Inclina modico aure meo, et excipe illa.

Multam inveni in meipso sapientiam, et multum profeci in ea.

I found much wisdom in myself, and profited much therein.

Multo inveni in meibda sapientia, et multo profice in illa.

Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam:

To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.

Ad dantio ad me sapientia da gloria:

consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam. Zelatus sum bonum, et non confundar.

For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded.

Consilia es nam ut fac illa. Zelato es bono, et non confunde.

Colluctata est anima mea in illa, et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum.

My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed.

Collucta es anima meo in illa, et in fac illa confirma es.

Manus meas extendi in altum, et insipientiam ejus luxi;

I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her.

Manus meo extende in altissimo, et insipientia de illo luci;

animam meam direxi ad illam, et in agnitione inveni eam.

I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.

Anima meo dirige ad illa, et in agnitione inveni illa.

Possedi cum ipsa cor ab initio: propter hoc, non derelinquar.

I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken.

Posside cum ipso corde ab initio: propter hoc, non derelinque.

Venter meus conturbatus est quærendo illam: propterea bonam possidebo possessionem.

My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.

Ventre meo conturba es quaere illa: propter hoc bono posside possessione.

Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam, et in ipsa laudabo eum.

The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him.

Domino ad me da lingua mercede meo, et in ipso lauda illo.

Appropiate ad me, indocti, et congregate vos in domum disciplinæ.

Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the hours of discipline.

Appropia ad me, indoca, et congrega vos in domo de disciplina.

Quid adhuc retardatis? et quid dicitis in his? animæ vestræ sitiunt vehementer.

Why are ye slow and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty.

Quid adhuc retarda? Et quid dic in hoc? Animas vestro sitie vehementer.

Aperui os meum, et locutus sum: Comparate vobis sine argento,

I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver,

Aperi ore meo, et locuto es: comparate ad vos sine argento,

et collum vestrum subjicite jugo: et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam: in proximo est enim invenire eam.

And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.

Et collo vestro subiicite iugo: et anima vestro suscipe disciplina: in proximo es nam inveni illa.

Videte oculis vestris, quia modicum laboravi, et inveni mihi multam requiem.

Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself.

Vide ad oculos vestro, quia modico labora, et inveni ad me multo requie.

Assumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti, et copiosum aurum possidete in ea.

Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her.

Assume disciplina in multo numero de argento, et copiosa auro posside in illa.

Lætetur anima vestra in misericordia ejus, et non confundemini in laude ipsius.

Let your soul rejoice in his mercy and you shall not be confounded in his praise.

Anima vestro laetor in misericordia de illo, et non confunde in laude de ipso.

Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus, et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo.

Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.

Operor opere vestro ante tempore, et i da ad vos mercede vestro in tempore suo.