Liber Ecclesiasticus, 3
1. Filii sapientiae ecclesia iustorum, et natio illorum oboedientia et dilectio.
1. My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation.
2. Indicium patris audite, filii, et sic facite, ut salvi sitis.
2. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity.
3. Deus enim honoravit patrem in filiis et iudicium matris firmavit in filios.
3. Cleave to him and do not depart, that you may be honored at the end of your life.
4. Qui honorat patrem, exorabit pro peccatis et continebit se ab illis et in oratione dierum exaudietur.
4. Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient.
5. Et, sicut qui thesaurizat, ita et qui honorificat matrem suam.
5. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
6. Qui honorat patrem suum, iucundabitur in filiis et in die orationis suae exaudietur;
6. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him.
7. qui honorat patrem suum, vita vivet longiore, et, qui oboedit patri, refrigerabit matrem.
7. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall.
8. Qui timet Dominum, honorat parentes et quasi dominis serviet his, qui se genuerunt.
8. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail;
9. In opere et sermone honora patrem tuum,
9. you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy.
10. ut superveniat tibi benedictio ab eo.
10. Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked?
11. Benedictio patris firmat domos filiorum; maledictio autem matris eradicat fundamenta.
11. For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction.
12. Ne glorieris in contumelia patris tui, non est enim tibi gloria eius confusio;
12. Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands, and to the sinner who walks along two ways!
13. gloria enim hominis ex honore patris sui, et dedecus filii mater sine honore.
13. Woe to the faint heart, for it has no trust! Therefore it will not be sheltered.
14. Fili, suscipe senectam patris tui et non contristes eum in vita illius;
14. Woe to you who have lost your endurance! What will you do when the Lord punishes you?
15. et, si defecerit sensu, veniam da et ne spernas eum omnibus diebus vitae eius. Eleemosyna enim patris non erit in oblivione,
15. Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his words, and those who love him will keep his ways.
16. nam pro peccatis ipsa plantabitur
16. Those who fear the Lord will seek his approval, and those who love him will be filled with the law.
17. et in iustitia aedificabitur tibi; et in die tribulationis commemorabitur tui, et sicut in sereno glacies solventur tua peccata.
17. Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will humble themselves before him.
18. Quam malae famae est, qui derelinquit patrem; et maledictus a Deo, qui exasperat matrem.
18. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, but not into the hands of men; for as his majesty is, so also is his mercy.
19. Fili, in mansuetudine opera tua perfice et super hominem datorem diligeris.
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20. Quanto magnus es, humilia te in omnibus et coram Deo invenies gratiam. Multi sunt excelsi et gloriosi, sed mansuetis revelat mysteria sua.
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21. Quoniam magna potentia Dei solius, et ab humilibus honoratur.
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22. Altiora te ne quaesieris et fortiora te ne scrutatus fueris; sed, quae praecepit tibi Deus, illa cogita semper et in pluribus operibus eius ne fueris curiosus.
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23. Non est enim tibi necessarium ea, quae abscondita sunt, videre oculis tuis.
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24. In supervacuis rebus noli scrutari multipliciter;
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25. plurima enim super sensum hominum ostensa sunt tibi.
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26. Multos quoque supplantavit suspicio illorum, et species vana decepit sensus illorum. Sine pupilla deerit lux, sine scientia deerit sapientia.
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27. Cor durum male habebit in novissimo; et, qui amat periculum, in illo peribit.
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28. Cor ingrediens duas vias non habebit successus, et pravus corde in illis scandalizabitur.
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29. Cor nequam gravabitur doloribus, et peccator adiciet peccatum ad peccatum.
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30. Plagis superborum non erit sanitas, frutex enim peccati radicabitur in illis et non intellegetur.
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31. Cor sapientis intelleget verba sapientium, et auris audiens concupiscet sapientiam.
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32. Sapiens cor et intellegibile abstinebit se a peccatis et in operibus iustitiae successus habebit.
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33. Ignem ardentem exstinguit aqua, sic eleemosyna expiat peccata.
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34. Deus prospector est eius, qui reddit gratiam; meminit eius in posterum, et in tempore casus sui inveniet firmamentum.
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