A Prayer of Yahoshua the son of Sira.
1 I thank you, O Aḏon and Sovereign,
And praise You, O Elohim my Saviour;
I give praise to Your Name;
2 For You are my Defender and Helper,
And have preserved my body from destruction,
And from the snare of the slanderous tongue,
And from the lips that forge lies,
And have been my Helper against my adversaries;
3 And have delivered me, according to the multitude of
Your kindnesses and greatness of Your Name,
From the teeth of those who were ready to devour me,
And out of the hands of those who sought after my life,
And from the great afflictions which I had;
4 From the choking fire on every side,
And from the midst of the fire which I did not kindle;
5 From the depth of the inward parts of She’ol,
From an unclean tongue, and from lying words.
6 By an accusation to the sovereign from an unrighteous tongue,
My being drew near unto death,
My life was near to She’ol beneath.
7 They surrounded me on every side,
And there was no one to help me.
I looked for the support of men, but there was none.
8 Then I thought upon Your favour, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄,
And upon Your acts of old,
How You save those who wait on You,
And save them out of the hands of their enemies.
9 Then I lifted up my supplications from the earth,
And prayed for deliverance from death,
10 I called upon Aḏonai 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, the Father,
That He would not leave me in the days of my trouble,
And in the time of the proud, when there was no help.
11 I praise Your Name continually,
And sing praises with thanksgiving;
And so my prayer is heard.
12 For You saved me from destruction,
And delivered me from the evil time;
Therefore I thank and praise You,
And baraḵ Your Name, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄!
13 When I was still young, or if I ever went travelling,
I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.
14 I prayed for her before the Hĕyḵal,
And shall seek her to the end.
15 Even from the flower till the grape was ripe,
My heart has delighted in her;
My foot went the right way,
From my youth upward I sought after her.
16 I bowed down my ear a little, and received her,
And acquired much learning.
17 I profited in this, therefore I shall ascribe esteem to He who gives me wisdom.
18 For I purposed to go after her,
And earnestly I followed that which is good;
So I shall not be ashamed.
19 My being has wrestled with her,
And in my doings I was exact.
I stretched forth my hands to the shamayim above,
And bewailed my ignorances of her.
20 I directed my being unto her,
And I found her in pureness.
I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning,
Therefore I shall not be forsaken.
21 My heart was troubled in seeking her;
Therefore I have received a good possession.
22 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 has given me a tongue for my reward,
And I shall praise Him with it!
23 Draw near unto me, you unlearned,
And dwell in the house of learning.
24 Why are you slow, and what do you say to these?
Seeing your beings are very thirsty.
25 I opened my mouth, and said,
“Acquire her for yourselves without silver.”
26 Put your neck under the yoke,
and let your being receive instruction;
She is found to be close at hand.
27 See with your eyes, how I have only little labour,
And have received much rest.
28 Acquire learning with a great sum of silver,
And get much gold by her.
29 Let your being rejoice in His kindness,
And do not be ashamed of His praise.
30 Work your work early,
And in His time He shall give you your reward.