Prayer of Jesus, son of Sirach
1 ① I will give thanks to you, O Lord and King; I praise you, my God and Savior, I give thanks to your Name.
2For you are my protector and helper, you have delivered my body from destruction, from the snare of the wicked tongue and from lips that speak lies.
In the presence of those who stood against me, you were my helper, my deliverer.
3In the fullness of mercy and the glory of your Name, you delivered me from the teeth of those ready to devour me, from the hand of those wanting to take my life and from my many trials. 4You rescued me from choking fire on every side; you saved me from a fire I had not kindled.
5You delivered me from the depths of the netherworld, from an impure tongue and lying words, 6from vicious slander reported to the king. I was near to death, I was already at the gates of the nether world.
7They surrounded me on every side with no one to help me. I looked for human comfort and there was none.
8Then, Lord, I remembered your mercy and your deeds from all eternity, knowing that you deliver those who hope in you and save them from the hands of their enemies.
9I sent up my prayer from the earth, begging to be delivered from death.
10I called on the Lord, the Father of my Lord: “Do not forsake me in the day of my affliction, when I am helpless against arrogant enemies; I will praise your name continually and sing to you my thanksgiving.”
11And my prayer was heard, you saved me from destruction and delivered me from an evil plight.
12That is why I will give you thanks and praise and bless the Name of the Lord.
13In my youth, before I set out on my travels, I openly sought wisdom in prayer; 14before the Temple I asked for her and I will pursue her to the end of my days.
15While she blossomed like a ripening cluster, my heart was delighted in her; my feet followed the right path, because from my youth I searched for her.
16As soon as I began listening to her she was given to me, and with her, much instruction.
17With her help I made progress and I will glorify him who gives me wisdom, 18for I decided to put it into practice and ardently seek what is good. I shall not regret it.
19My soul has struggled to possess her. I have been attentive to observe the Law, and after my faults I have stretched out my hands to heaven and lamented my ignorance of her.
20My love of her increased and I found her in repentance. It was through her from the beginning that I learned to possess my heart. She will not forsake me.
21With my whole being I sought her; that is why I won what is best.
22In return for this, the Lord has given me words to praise him.
23come near, you who are without understanding and join her school.
24Why do you say you are deprived of all this and that your souls are thirsty?
25This is what I say: Buy this without money; 26put your neck under her yoke and let your minds receive instruction; it is very near and within your reach.
27See for yourselves: my toil has been slight and I found deep rest.
28Be instructed, whatever the cost, and you will gain what is better than gold.
29Let your soul find joy in the mercy of the Lord, and do not be ashamed to praise him.
30Do your work within the appointed time, and the Lord in his time will give you your reward.
- Sir 51,1 This thanksgiving for liberation is a complement to the book of Ben Sira. The listing of the dangers from which God can free people, recalls for us the heroes of the Old Testament: Daniel in the lions' den, Daniel and his friends in the furnace, Joseph imprisoned, Susanna, David. This is used for the feasts of martyrs in the liturgy of the Church. Their death (see Wis 3:1) was liberation from evil. Like Jesus, martyrs did not escape from evil and death, but they conquered both, overcoming natural fear and forgiving their enemies.
