Contemporary English Version A Prayer To Give Thanks 1I praise you, Lord God, because you are my king, and you rescued me. I give you thanks 2for protection and help when I was in danger from enemies who tried to destroy me with cruel lies. 3My enemies wanted me dead and were about to gobble me up, but you had pity and rescued me from the trouble they caused. 4I was surrounded by fires they had set, and I could not breathe for the smoke. * 5Death was ready to swallow me, because their filthy lies 6had reached the king. I was standing at the edge of an open grave. 7Enemies surrounded me, and I called for help-- but no one came. 8Then, Lord, I remembered your mercy and kindness and how you have always saved those who trusted you when they were attacked by evil people. 9So I prayed and cried out, "Don't let me die! 10I am in trouble, facing arrogant enemies with no one to help me. But you are my Lord and Father, so please don't let me down. Rescue me, 11and I will honor you forever with songs of praise." I know you heard my prayer, 12because you saved me from death and rescued me from danger. That's why I thank you and give you honor and praise. Sirach Looked for Wisdom * 13When I was young and before I had traveled, 14I prayed in the temple courtyard and openly asked for Wisdom. And I will look for her every day of my life. 15Now I am old, but ever since I was a child, I have loved Wisdom and always followed her on the path where she walked. 16When I listened even a little to what she said, I learned many things. 17So I continued to study, and I praise God, who gives me Wisdom. 18I chose to live by Wisdom and always do right, and I have never had a reason to be ashamed. 19Whenever I had to struggle to follow her completely, I would lift my hands in prayer and tell God I was sorry I knew so little of Wisdom. 20But I was set on finding her, and I did, by removing sin from my heart. Now, I grow wiser and wiser, and she will never leave me. 21I made the effort to find Wisdom because I really wanted her, and she is worth it all. 22The Lord also rewarded me with a gift for using words, and so I will use that gift to offer him praise. 23If Wisdom is a subject you have never studied, then come to my school. 24If your desire for her is like a great thirst, why haven't you quenched it? 25Here is my advice-- you cannot buy Wisdom, 26and you need not travel far. You just have to be willing to do what she says. 27Studying wisdom has filled my life with peace, and you can see it is worth any effort I have made. 28And even if learning Wisdom costs you a lot of silver, she will bring you even more in gold. Celebrate the Mercy of God! 29Celebrate the mercy of God! Don't be ashamed to tell others how great he is. 30Work when it is time to work, and God will reward you when the time is right. Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev. |