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I shall give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my Saviour, I give thanks to your name;
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for you have been my guard and support and redeemed my body from destruction, from the snare of the lying tongue, from lips that fabricate falsehood; in the presence of my assailants, you were on my side; you have been my support, you have redeemed me,
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true to your abounding kindness -- and the greatness of your name -- you liberated me from the fangs of those seeking to devour me, from the clutches of those seeking my life, from the many ordeals which I have endured,
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from the stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled,
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from deep in the belly of Sheol,
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treacherous denunciations to the king. My soul has been close to death, my life had gone down to the brink of Sheol.
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I was completely surrounded, there was no one to help me; I looked for someone to help me, there was no one.
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Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your deeds from earliest times, how you deliver those who wait for you patiently, and save them from the clutches of their enemies.
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And I sent up my plea from the earth, I begged to be delivered from death.
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I called on the Lord, the father of my Lord, 'Do not desert me in the days of ordeal, in the days of the proud, when we are helpless. I shall praise your name unceasingly and gratefully sing its praises.'
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And my plea was heard, for you saved me from destruction, you delivered me from that time of evil.
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And therefore I shall thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the Lord.
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When I was still a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.
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Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her.
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From her blossoming to the ripening of her grape my heart has taken its delight in her. My foot has pursued a straight path, I have sought her ever since my youth.
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By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction.
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Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom!
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For I was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shall not be put to shame.
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My soul has fought to possess her, I have been scrupulous in keeping the Law; I have stretched out my hands to heaven and bewailed how little I knew of her;
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I have directed my soul towards her, and in purity I have found her; having my heart fixed on her from the outset, I shall never be deserted;
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my very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession.
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In reward the Lord has given me a tongue with which I shall sing his praises.
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Come close to me, you ignorant, take your place in my school.
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Why complain about lacking these things when your souls are so thirsty for them?
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I have opened my mouth, I have said: 'Buy her without money,
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put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction, she is near, within your reach.'
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See for yourselves: how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace.
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Buy instruction with a large sum of silver, thanks to her you will gain much gold.
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May your souls rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, may you never be ashamed of praising him.
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Do your work before the appointed time and at the appointed time he will give you your reward. (Subscript:) Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sira.
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