1 I will give thanks to You, O Lord and King, And I will praise You as my God and Savior. I give thanks to Your name.
2 For You have been my protector and helper, And You redeemed my body from destruction And from the snare of a slanderous tongue, From the lips of those who work falsehood. And before all those who stood by, You were a helper, And You redeemed me,
3 According to Your great mercy and Your name, From being devoured as one prepared for food At the hands of those who sought my soul; From many afflictions that I endured,
4 From suffocation by an encircling fire, And from the midst of a fire I did not start;
5 From the depths of the belly of Hades And from the tongue of the unclean and the word of a liar.
6 The slander of an unrighteous tongue before the king. My soul drew near unto death, And my life was near Hades below.
7 They surrounded me on all sides, And there was no one to help me. I looked for the help of men, but there was none.
8 Then I remembered Your mercy, O Lord, And Your work which is from of old, For You lift up those who wait upon You, And You save them from the hand of their enemies.
9 I sent up my supplication from the earth And prayed about the instability caused by death.
10 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, That He might not forsake me in the days of affliction, When I am helpless against the arrogant. I will praise Your name continually, And I will sing a hymn with thanksgiving.
11 My prayer was heard, For You saved me from destruction And rescued me from a time of evil.
12 Therefore I will thank and praise You, And I will bless the name of the Lord.
13 While I was still young, before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
14 Before the temple I prayed about her, And I will search for her to the end of my life.
15 From blossoms to ripening grapes, My heart rejoiced in her. My foot embarked on her righteous path, And from my youth I hunted for her.
16 I inclined my ear a little and received her. I found much instruction for myself.
17 There was progress for me in her. To Him who gives me wisdom, I will give glory.
18 For I purposed to practice wisdom; And I was zealous for the good And was not put to shame.
19 My soul strove earnestly for her, And I examined myself closely in my performance of the law. I stretched out my hands to the heights And mourned my ignorance of her.
20 I directed my soul to her, And in purification I found her. I acquired a heart for her from the beginning; Therefore, I was not forsaken.
21 My heart was stirred to search for her, And therefore I gained a good possession.
22 The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, And I will praise Him with it.
23 Draw near to me, untaught ones, And lodge in my school.
24 Why do you say that you are lacking in these things, Yet you let your souls thirst exceedingly?
25 I opened my mouth and said, “Gain wisdom for yourselves without money .
26 Place your neck under her yoke, And let your soul receive her instruction. She is near that you might find her.
27 See with your own eyes that I labored little, But found much rest for myself.
28 Partake of instruction with a great amount of silver, And gain much gold with it.
29 May your soul be gladdened by His mercy, And may you not be put to shame when you praise Him!
30 Do your work before the appointed time, And He will give you your reward in His appointed time.”