BenSira:51

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* I will thank thee , O Lord and King , and praise thee , O God my Saviour : I do give praise unto thy name : * For thou art my defender and helper , and has preserved my body from destruction , and from the snare of the slanderous tongue , and from the lips that forge lies , and has been mine helper against mine adversaries : * And hast delivered me , according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name , from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me , and out of the hands of such as sought after my life , and from the manifold afflictions which I had ; * From the choking of fire on every side , and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not ; * From the depth of the belly of hell , from an unclean tongue , and from lying words . * By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death , my life was near to the hell beneath . * They compassed me on every side , and there was no man to help me : I looked for the succour of men , but there was none . * Then thought I upon thy mercy , O Lord , and upon thy acts of old , how thou deliverest such as wait for thee , and savest them out of the hands of the enemies . * Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth , and prayed for deliverance from death . * I called upon the Lord , the Father of my Lord , that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble , and in the time of the proud , when there was no help . * I will praise thy name continually , and will sing praises with thanksgiving ; and so my prayer was heard : * For thou savedst me from destruction , and deliveredst me from the evil time : therefore will I give thanks , and praise thee , and bless they name , O Lord . * When I was yet young , or ever I went abroad , I desired wisdom openly in my prayer . * I prayed for her before the temple , and will seek her out even to the end . * Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her : my foot went the right way , from my youth up sought I after her . * I bowed down mine ear a little , and received her , and gat much learning . * I profited therein , therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom . * For I purposed to do after her , and earnestly I followed that which is good ; so shall I not be confounded . * My soul hath wrestled with her , and in my doings I was exact : I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above , and bewailed my ignorances of her . * I directed my soul unto her , and I found her in pureness : I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning , therefore shall I not be foresaken . * My heart was troubled in seeking her : therefore have I gotten a good possession . * The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward , and I will praise him therewith . * Draw near unto me , ye unlearned , and dwell in the house of learning . * Wherefore are ye slow , and what say ye to these things , seeing your souls are very thirsty ? * I opened my mouth , and said , Buy her for yourselves without money . * Put your neck under the yoke , and let your soul receive instruction : she is hard at hand to find . * Behold with your eyes , how that I have but little labour , and have gotten unto me much rest . * Get learning with a great sum of money , and get much gold by her . * Let your soul rejoice in his mercy , and be not ashamed of his praise . * Work your work betimes , and in his time he will give you your reward .

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