Ben Sira’s Hymn of Thanksgiving

Ben Sira 51:1–12

ca. 180–132 BCE

Ben Sira is a wisdom book written in the land of Israel around the 180s BCE (before the Maccabean wars but after the high priesthood of Simon II; see HELLENISTIC PERIOD). The book was written in Hebrew, then translated into Greek by the author’s grandson. It survives in both languages. The thanksgiving hymn at the end of Ben Sira expresses the speaker’s gratitude for having been delivered from death and destruction. It draws on conventional language and imagery familiar from the canonical psalms.

Ben Sira 51:1–12

1I give you thanks, O Lord and King,
   and praise you, O God my Savior.
I give thanks to your name,
   2for you have been my protector and helper
and have delivered me from destruction
   and from the trap laid by a slanderous tongue,
   from lips that fabricate lies.
In the face of my adversaries
   you have been my helper 3and delivered me,
   in the greatness of your mercy and of your name,
from grinding teeth about to devour me,
   from the hand of those seeking my life,
   from the many troubles I endured,
4from choking fire on every side,
   and from the midst of fire that I had not kindled,
5from the deep belly of Hades,
   from an unclean tongue and lying words—
   6the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king.
My soul drew near to death,
   and my life was on the brink of Hades below.
7They surrounded me on every side,
   and there was no one to help me;
I looked for human assistance,
   and there was none.
8Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,
   and your kindness from of old,
for you rescue those who wait for you
   and save them from the hand of their enemies.
9And I sent up my prayer from the earth,
   and begged for rescue from death.
10I cried out, “Lord, you are my Father;
   do not forsake me in the days of trouble,
   when there is no help against the proud.
11I will praise your name continually,
   and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.”
My prayer was heard,
   12for you saved me from destruction
   and rescued me in time of trouble.
For this reason I thank you and praise you,
   and I bless the name of the Lord.

Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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