الإصحَاحُ
الْحَادِي والْخَمْسُونَ

Chapter 51

 

51:1
I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do
give praise unto thy name: 2 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: 3 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; 4 From the choking of fire on every side, and
from the midst of the fire which I kindled not; 5 From the depth of the belly
of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.

 

6
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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and
prayed for deliverance from death. 10 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. 11 I will praise thy name continually, and
will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard: 12 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.

 

13
When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my
prayer. 14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to
the end. 15 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. 16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much
learning. 17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that
giveth me wisdom. 18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed
that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.

 

19
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. 20 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 forsaken. 21 My heart was
troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession. 22 The Lord
hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.

 

23
Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning. 24
Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are
very thirsty? 25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without
money. 26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction:
she is hard at hand to find. 27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but
little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest. 28 Get learning with a great
sum of money, and get much gold by her.

 

29
Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise. 30 Work
your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.