Chapter 51

¹They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there was none. ¹¹I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world. ¹²How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations. ¹³Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away. ¹⁴I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help. ¹⁵I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard. ¹⁶And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time. ¹⁷Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord. ¹⁸When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer. ¹⁹I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. ²⁰My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from my youth up I sought after her. ²¹I bowed down my ear a little, and received her. ²²I found much wisdom in myself, and I profited much therein. ²³To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory. ²⁴For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, and shall not be confounded. ²⁵My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been confirmed. ²⁶I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance of her. ²⁷I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her. ²⁸I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I shall not be forsaken. ²⁹My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession. ³⁰The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I will praise him. ³¹Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline. ³²Why are ye slow? and what do you say of these things? your souls are exceeding thirsty. ³³I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves without silver, ³⁴And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found. ³⁵Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have found much rest to myself. ³⁶Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess abundance of gold by her. ³⁷Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be confounded in his praise. ³⁸Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his time.