Ben Sira's personal conclusion in two parts: a thanksgiving prayer for deliverance from mortal danger (vv. 1-12), and an alphabetic acrostic poem about seeking wisdom from youth (vv. 13-30). The book ends with an invitation to acquire wisdom freely.
The acrostic poem (vv. 13-30) was found in Hebrew at both Qumran (11QPsa) and Masada, confirming the book's original Hebrew composition. Verse 25 ('Acquire wisdom without money') anticipates Isaiah 55:1 and Jesus's 'freely you have received, freely give' (Matthew 10:8). This is Ben Sira's personal testimony — the only autobiographical passage from a named biblical author outside Paul.
The Vulgate's chapter 51 contains some material not found in the Greek or Hebrew — Jerome may have drawn on a longer Aramaic/Hebrew tradition. The acrostic structure is invisible in Latin translation.
Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22 (thanksgiving for deliverance), Isaiah 55:1 (come without money), Matthew 11:28-30 (take my yoke — Sirach's yoke of wisdom), 11QPsa (Qumran Psalms Scroll contains this acrostic).
Confitebor tibi Domine rex et conlaudabo te Deum salvatorem meum
I will give thanks to you, Lord and King, and I will praise you, God my Savior.
Echoes Habakkuk 3:18 and anticipates Luke 1:47 (Mary's Magnificat: 'God my Savior')
Confitebor nomini tuo quoniam adiutor et protector factus es mihi
I will give thanks to your name, for you have been my helper and protector,
et liberasti corpus meum a perditione a laqueo linguae iniquae et a labiis operantium mendacium et in conspectu adstantium factus es mihi adiutor
and you have delivered my body from destruction, from the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips that fashion lies — and in the presence of those who stood by, you became my helper.
Et liberasti me secundum multitudinem misericordiae nominis tui a rugientibus praeparatis ad escam
You delivered me, according to the abundance of your name's mercy, from those who roared, prepared to devour —
De manu quaerentium animam meam et de portis tribulationum quae circumdederunt me
from the hand of those who sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions that surrounded me,
A pressura flammae quae circumdedit me et in medio ignis non sum aestuatus
from the choking flame that encircled me — and in the midst of fire I was not burned,
De altitudine ventris inferi et a lingua coinquinata et a verbo mendacii a rege iniquo et a lingua iniusta
from the depth of the belly of Sheol, and from an unclean tongue, from lying speech, from an unjust king and a slanderous tongue.
Jonah's 'belly of the fish/Sheol' echoed — near-death experience as descent to the underworld
Laudabit usque ad mortem anima mea Dominum
My soul will praise the Lord even to death,
Et vita mea adpropinquans erat in inferno deorsum
for my life was drawing near to Sheol below.
Circumdederunt me undique et non erat qui adiuvaret respiciens eram ad adiutorium hominum et non erat
They surrounded me on every side, and there was no one to help; I looked for human aid, and there was none.
Memoratus sum misericordiae tuae Domine et operationis tuae quae a saeculo sunt
Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your deeds from of old —
Quoniam eruis sustinentes te Domine et liberas eos de manibus gentium
that you rescue those who wait for you, Lord, and deliver them from the hands of the nations.
Exaltasti super terram habitationem meam et pro morte defluente deprecatus sum
You exalted my dwelling on the earth, and I prayed for deliverance from death.
Invocavi Dominum patrem Domini mei ut non derelinquat me in die tribulationis meae et in tempore superborum sine adiutorio
I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, not to forsake me in the day of trouble, in the time of the arrogant, when there is no help.
Laudabo nomen tuum adsidue et conlaudabo illud in confessione et exaudita est oratio mea
I will praise your name continually and sing it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
Et liberasti me de perditione et eripuisti me de tempore iniquo
You delivered me from destruction and rescued me from the evil time.
Propterea confitebor et laudem dicam tibi et benedicam nomini Domini
Therefore I will give thanks and praise to you, and bless the name of the Lord.
Cum adhuc iunior essem priusquam oberrarem quaesivi sapientiam palam in oratione mea
While I was still young, before I went astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
Ante templum postulabam pro illa et usque in novissimis inquiram eam et effloruit tamquam praecox uva
Before the temple I asked for her, and I will search for her to the end. She flourished like a ripening grape.
Laetatum est cor meum in ea ambulavit pes meus iter rectum a iuventute mea investigabam eam
My heart rejoiced in her, my foot walked the straight path; from my youth I tracked her down.
Inclinavi modice aurem meam et excepi illam
I inclined my ear a little and received her,
Et multam inveni in me ipso sapientiam et multum profeci in ea
and I found much wisdom within myself, and I made great progress through her.
Danti mihi sapientiam dabo gloriam
To the one who gives me wisdom I will give glory.
Consiliatus sum enim ut facerem illam et zelatus sum bonum et non confundar
For I resolved to practice her, and I was zealous for the good, and I shall never be put to shame.
Conluctata est anima mea in illa et in faciendo eam confirmatus sum
My soul wrestled with wisdom, and in practicing her I was strengthened.
Manus meas extendi in altum et insipientiam eius luxi
I stretched out my hands on high, and I lamented my ignorance of her.
Animam meam direxi ad illam et in agnitione inveni eam
I directed my soul toward her, and in understanding I found her.
Possedi cor cum illa ab initio propter hoc non derelinquar
I possessed my heart with her from the beginning; therefore I shall not be forsaken.
Venter meus conturbatus est quaerendo illam propterea bonam possidebo possessionem
My inmost self was stirred in seeking her; therefore I have gained a good possession.
Dedit mihi Dominus linguam mercedem meam et in ipsa laudabo eum
The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, and with it I will praise him.
The teacher's reward is the ability to teach — wisdom received must be wisdom given. Anticipates 'freely you received, freely give' (Matt 10:8)
Adpropiate ad me indocti et congregate vos in domum disciplinae
Draw near to me, you untaught, and lodge in the house of instruction.
Hebrew bet midrash — the synagogue school. Ben Sira's own academy where this book was taught.
Quid adhuc retardatis et quid dicitis in his animae vestrae sitim habentes vehementer
Why do you still hold back? Why do you say anything about these things, when your souls thirst so greatly?
Aperui os meum et locutus sum conparate vobis sine argento sapientiam
I opened my mouth and said: Acquire wisdom for yourselves without money.
The democratization of wisdom — available to all regardless of wealth. Counter-cultural in the ancient world where education required patronage.
Collum vestrum subicite iugo et suscipiat anima vestra disciplinam in proximo enim est invenire eam
Submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction; she is near at hand to find.
The wisdom-yoke tradition: Sirach 6:24-25, 51:26, then Matthew 11:29. Torah as yoke → Wisdom as yoke → Christ as yoke.
Videte oculis vestris quia modicum laboravi et inveni mihi multam requiem
See with your own eyes that I labored but a little and found for myself much rest.
Adsumite disciplinam in multo numero argenti et copiosum aurum possidete in ea
Acquire instruction with a great sum of silver, and you will gain much gold through her.
Laetetur anima vestra in misericordia eius et non confundemini in laude ipsius
Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you will not be put to shame in praising him.
Operamini opus vestrum ante tempus et dabit vobis mercedem vestram in tempore suo
Do your work before the appointed time, and in his own time he will give you your reward.