Liber Ecclesiasticus, 44
1. Laus patrum. Laudemus viros gloriosos et parentes nostros in generatione sua.
1. The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament, the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.
2. Multam gloriam fecit Dominus, magnificentiam suam a saeculo.
2. The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High.
3. Dominantes in potestatibus suis, homines magni virtute et prudentia sua praediti, nuntiantes in prophetiis,
3. At noon it parches the land; and who can withstand its burning heat?
4. regentes populum in consiliis et peritia scripturae populos; verba sapientiae in disciplina eorum,
4. A man tending a furnace works in burning heat, but the sun burns the mountains three times as much; it breathes out fiery vapors, and with bright beams it blinds the eyes.
5. requirentes modos musicos et narrantes carmina scripturarum;
5. Great is the Lord who made it; and at his command it hastens on its course.
6. homines divites innixi virtute, pulchritudinis studium habentes, pacificantes in domibus suis.
6. He made the moon also, to serve in its season to mark the times and to be an everlasting sign.
7. Omnes isti in generationibus gentis suae gloriam adepti sunt et a diebus suis habentur in laudibus.
7. From the moon comes the sign for feast days, a light that wanes when it has reached the full.
8. De illis nati sunt, qui reliquerunt nomen narrandi laudes eorum.
8. The month is named for the moon, increasing marvelously in its phases, an instrument of the hosts on high shining forth in the firmament of heaven.
9. Et sunt quorum non est memoria: perierunt quasi qui non fuerint; et nati sunt quasi non nati, et filii ipsorum post ipsos.
9. The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord.
10. Sed hi viri misericordiae sunt, quorum pietates non fuerunt in oblivione.
10. At the command of the Holy One they stand as ordered, they never relax in their watches.
11. Cum semine eorum permanent, bona hereditas, nepotes eorum,
11. Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it, exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.
12. et in testamentis stetit semen eorum;
12. It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.
13. et filii eorum propter illos. Usque in aeternum manet semen eorum, et gloria eorum non derelinquetur.
13. By his command he sends the driving snow and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.
14. Corpora ipsorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomen eorum vivit in generationem et generationem;
14. Therefore the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly forth like birds.
15. sapientiam ipsorum narrent populi, et laudem eorum nuntiet ecclesia.
15. In his majesty he amasses the clouds, and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
16. Henoch placuit Deo et translatus est in paradisum, ut det gentibus paenitentiam.
16. At his appearing the mountains are shaken; at his will the south wind blows.
17. Noe inventus est perfectus iustus et in tempore iracundiae factus est reconciliatio;
17. The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth; so do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind. He scatters the snow like birds flying down, and its descent is like locusts alighting.
18. propter eum dimissum est reliquum terrae, cum factum est diluvium:
18. The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.
19. testamenta saeculi posita sunt apud illum, ne deleri posset diluvio omnis caro.
19. He pours the hoarfrost upon the earth like salt, and when it freezes, it becomes pointed thorns.
20. Abraham magnus pater multitudinis gentium, et non est inventa macula in gloria eius; qui conservavit legem Excelsi et fuit in testamento cum illo.
20. The cold north wind blows, and ice freezes over the water; it rests upon every pool of water, and the water puts it on like a breastplate.
21. In carne eius stare fecit testamentum, et in tentatione inventus est fidelis.
21. He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness, and withers the tender grass like fire.
22. Ideo iure iurando statuit illi benedici gentes in semine eius, crescere illum quasi terrae cumulum
22. A mist quickly heals all things; when the dew appears, it refreshes from the heat.
23. et ut stellas exaltare semen eius et hereditare illos a mari usque ad mare et a Flumine usque ad terminos terrae.
23. By his counsel he stilled the great deep and planted islands in it.
24. Et in Isaac eodem modo statuit propter Abraham patrem eius.
24. Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, and we marvel at what we hear.
25. Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi Dominus et testamentum confirmavit super caput Iacob.
25. for in it are strange and marvelous works, all kinds of living things, and huge creatures of the sea.
26. Agnovit eum in benedictionibus suis et dedit illi hereditatem et divisit illi partem in tribubus duodecim.
26. Because of him his messenger finds the way, and by his word all things hold together.
27. Et eduxit ex illo hominem misericordiae invenientem gratiam in oculis omnis carnis,
27. Though we speak much we cannot reach the end, and the sum of our words is: "He is the all."
28.
28. Where shall we find strength to praise him? For he is greater than all his works.
29.
29. Terrible is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power.
30.
30. When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he will surpass even that. When you exalt him, put forth all your strength, and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.
31.
31. Who has seen him and can describe him? Or who can extol him as he is?
32.
32. Many things greater than these lie hidden, for we have seen but few of his works.
33.
33. For the Lord has made all things, and to the godly he has granted wisdom.
