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51:1  I give thanks to you, O Lord and King, and praise you, O God my Savior. I give thanks to your name,
51:2  for you have been my protector and my support. You have rescued me from destruction, from the snare laid by a slanderous tongue, and from lips that fabricate falsehood. In the face of my adversaries you came to my aid;
51:3  in the greatness of your mercy and of your name you rescued me: from the gnashing teeth waiting to devour me, from the hands of those who sought my life, and from the many ordeals I endured,
51:4  from the choking fire that enveloped me, and from the fire that I had not kindled,
51:5  from the deep recesses of the netherworld, from deceiving lips and lying words
51:6  and a treacherous slander delivered to the king. I was at the point of death, and my soul was hovering near the depths of the netherworld.
51:7  I was surrounded on every side and there was no one to help me. I looked for human assistance but there was none.
51:8  Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your kind deeds from the ages. For you deliver those who put their trust in you and rescue them from the power of their enemies.
51:9  Therefore, from the earth I sent up my plea, begging to be rescued from death.
51:10  I cried out: “Lord, you are my Father, and the champion of my salvation; do not abandon me in my days of ordeal, for I am helpless when confronted by the arrogant. I will praise your name continually and sing hymns of thanksgiving.”
51:11  Thereupon my prayer was heard, for you saved me from destruction and delivered me from my desperate plight.
51:12  For this reason, I thank you and I praise you; I bless the name of the Lord.
51:13  While I was still young, before I set off on my travels, I openly sought wisdom in my prayers.
51:14  Outside the temple I prayed for her, and I will seek her until my death.
51:15  From the first blossoming to the ripening of her grape, she has been my heart’s delight. My foot has continued unswervingly on a level path; I have sought her since my youth.
51:16  I inclined my ear slightly and received her, and I profited thereby with much instruction.
51:17  Thanks to her I have advanced, and I will give glory to him who has granted me wisdom.
51:18  I resolved to put into practice what I had learned; I earnestly pursued goodness, and I will never be put to shame.
51:19  With all my strength I strove to possess wisdom, and I was scrupulous in keeping the law. I stretched out my hands on high and lamented how little I really knew of her.
51:20  I set my heart on possessing wisdom, and by keeping myself pure I found her. With her I gained understanding immediately; therefore, I will never be forsaken.
51:21  I yearned to discover her from the very core of my being; therefore, I have gained a prize possession.
51:22  As my reward the Lord has granted me eloquence, which I will use to sing his praises.
51:23  Come close to me, you who are unlearned, and take up your lodging in my school.
51:24  Why do you complain that you still lack these things, and why do you continue to endure such great thirst?
51:25  I have opened my mouth and spoken: Acquire wisdom for yourselves without cost.
51:26  Put your neck under her yoke, and allow your souls to receive instruction; it is close by if you wish to find it.
51:27  See for yourselves that my labors were minimal, but my reward of serenity has been great.
51:28  You may expend a great deal of silver to acquire instruction, but, as a result, you will gain much gold.
51:29  May your soul rejoice in the mercy of the Lord, and may you never be ashamed to praise him.
51:30  Do your work in the appointed time, and in his own time God will give you your reward.