Ben Sira 51:8-18

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 supplication 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 praise 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 Thy name, O Lord.
13 When I was yet young, before 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 got much learning.
17 I profited therein; therefore will I ascribe the glory unto Him that giveth me wisdom.
18 For I purposed to do according to her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.