I will give thanks to you, Lord, King, and I will praise you, God my Savior; I give thanks to your name.
The Koine Bible
The Scriptures in Greek with direct English translation.
Rahlfs Septuagint
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 51
Greek text followed verse by verse by a direct English translation.
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σκεπαστὴς καὶ βοηθὸς ἐγένου μοι καὶ ἐλυτρώσω τὸ σῶμά μου ἐξ ἀπωλείας καὶ ἐκ παγίδος διαβολῆς γλώσσης ἀπὸ χειλέων ἐργαζομένων ψεῦδος καὶ ἔναντι τῶν παρεστηκότων ἐγένου βοηθὸς καὶ ἐλυτρώσω με
for you became a protector and helper to me and you redeemed my body from destruction and from the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips working falsehood, and before those standing by you became a helper and you redeemed me
τὸ πλῆθος ἐλέους καὶ ὀνόματός σου ἐκ βρυγμῶν ἕτοιμον εἰς βρῶμα ἐκ χειρὸς ζητούντων τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ πλειόνων θλίψεων ὧν ἔσχον
according to the abundance of your mercy and your name, from gnashed teeth, ready for food, from the hand of those seeking my life, from more afflictions than I had suffered
from suffocation of a fire all around, and from the midst of fire which I did not burn out
from the depth of the belly of Hades and from an unclean tongue and from false speech
Against slander of an unjust tongue, my soul drew near even to death, and my life was close to Hades below.
They surrounded me on every side, and there was no one helping; I looked for human support, and there was none.
ἐμνήσθην τοῦ ἐλέους σου κύριε καὶ τῆς ἐργασίας σου τῆς ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος ὅτι ἐξαιρῇ τοὺς ὑπομένοντάς σε καὶ σῴζεις αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν
And I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your work from of old, because you deliver those who wait for you and save them from the hand of enemies.
And I lifted up my supplication from the earth, and for deliverance from death I begged.
κύριον πατέρα κυρίου μου μή με ἐγκαταλιπεῖν ἐν ἡμέραις θλίψεως ἐν καιρῷ ὑπερηφανιῶν ἀβοηθησίας αἰνέσω τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐνδελεχῶς καὶ ὑμνήσω ἐν ἐξομολογήσει
I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, not to forsake me in days of affliction, in a time of proud helplessness; I will praise your name continually, and I will hymn in confession.
and my supplication was heard, for you saved me from destruction and delivered me from an evil time
Therefore I will give thanks to you and praise you and bless the name of the Lord
While I was still younger, before I went astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer
Before the temple I prayed concerning her, and even to the last I will seek her out
ἄνθους ὡς περκαζούσης σταφυλῆς εὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν αὐτῇ ἐπέβη ὁ πούς μου ἐν εὐθύτητι ἐκ νεότητός μου ἴχνευον αὐτήν
My heart was gladdened by her, as by the flower of a ripening grape; my foot stepped upon her in uprightness; from my youth I tracked her out
I inclined my ear a little and received, and I found much instruction for myself
Through her there came to me progress; to the one giving me wisdom I will give glory
For I intended to do it, and I was zealous for the good, and I shall surely not be put to shame
ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ἐν ποιήσει νόμου διηκριβασάμην τὰς χεῖράς μου ἐξεπέτασα πρὸς ὕψος καὶ τὰ ἀγνοήματα αὐτῆς ἐπένθησα
My soul has contended over it, and in doing the law I examined my hands; I stretched out my hands toward the height, and I mourned for its ignorances.
ψυχήν μου κατεύθυνα εἰς αὐτὴν καὶ ἐν καθαρισμῷ εὗρον αὐτήν καρδίαν ἐκτησάμην μετ᾿ αὐτῆς ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς διὰ τοῦτο οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλειφθῶ
I directed my soul to her, and in cleansing I found her; I acquired a heart with her from the beginning; therefore I shall certainly not be forsaken
And my belly was disturbed to seek her; therefore I acquired a good possession
The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, and with it I will praise him.
Draw near to me, you unlearned, and lodge in the house of instruction.
Why do you say that you are lacking in these things, and your souls thirst exceedingly?
I opened my mouth and spoke: Acquire for yourselves without silver
Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction; it is near to find it.
See with your eyes that I labored a little and found for myself much rest
Buy instruction in great abundance of silver, and acquire much gold in her.
May your soul rejoice in his mercy, and may you not be put to shame in his praise.
Work your work before the time, and he will give your reward in its time.