Liber Baruch, 3

1. Domine omnipotens, Deus Is rael, anima in angustiis et spiri tus anxius clamat ad te.

1. "`O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to thee.

2. Audi, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus in conspectu tuo;

2. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned before thee.

3. quia tu sedens es in aeternum, et nos pereuntes in aeternum.

3. For thou art enthroned for ever, and we are perishing for ever.

4. Domine omnipotens, Deus Israel, audi nunc orationem defunctorum Israel et filiorum eorum, qui peccaverunt in conspectu tuo, qui non audierunt vocem Domini Dei sui, et adhaeserunt nobis mala.

4. O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel and of the sons of those who sinned before thee, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us.

5. Noli memor esse iniquitatum patrum nostrorum, sed memor esto manus tuae et nominis tui in hoc tempore,

5. Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but in this crisis remember thy power and thy name.

6. quia tu es Dominus Deus noster, et laudabimus te, Domine,

6. For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.

7. quia propter hoc dedisti timorem tuum in cor nostrum, ut invocaremus nomen tuum; et laudabimus te in captivitate nostra, quia avertimus a corde nostro omnem iniquitatem patrum nostrorum, qui peccaverunt in conspectu tuo.

7. For thou hast put the fear of thee in our hearts in order that we should call upon thy name; and we will praise thee in our exile, for we have put away from our hearts all the iniquity of our fathers who sinned before thee.

8. Ecce nos hodie in captivitate nostra, quo nos dispersisti in opprobrium et in maledictum et in expiationem, secundum omnes iniquitates patrum nostrorum, qui discesserunt a Domino Deo nostro”.

8. Behold, we are today in our exile where thou hast scattered us, to be reproached and cursed and punished for all the iniquities of our fathers who forsook the Lord our God.'"

9. Audi, Israel, mandata vitae; auribus percipite, ut sciatis prudentiam.

9. Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; give ear, and learn wisdom!

10. Quid est, Israel? Quid est quod in terra es inimicorum?

10. Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies, that you are growing old in a foreign country, that you are defiled with the dead,

11. Inveterasti in terra aliena, coinquinatus es mortuis, reputatus es cum eis, qui apud inferos sunt.

11. that you are counted among those in Hades?

12. Dereliquisti fontem sapientiae!

12. You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.

13. Si in via Dei ambulasses, habitasses in pace in aeternum.

13. If you had walked in the way of God, you would be dwelling in peace for ever.

14. Disce, ubi sit prudentia, ubi fortitudo, ubi sit intellectus, ut scias simul, ubi sit longiturnitas dierum et vita, ubi sit lumen oculorum et pax.

14. Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is understanding, that you may at the same time discern where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace.

15. Quis invenit locum eius? Et quis intravit in thesauros eius?

15. Who has found her place? And who has entered her storehouses?

16. Ubi sunt principes gentium et qui dominantur bestiis, quae sunt super terram,

16. Where are the princes of the nations, and those who rule over the beasts on earth;

17. qui in avibus caeli ludunt,

17. those who have sport with the birds of the air, and who hoard up silver and gold, in which men trust, and there is no end to their getting;

18. qui argentum thesaurizant et aurum, in quo confidunt homines, neque est finis acquisitionis eorum; qui argentum fabricant et solliciti sunt, nec est inquisitio operum illorum?

18. those who scheme to get silver, and are anxious, whose labors are beyond measure?

19. Exterminati sunt et ad inferos descenderunt, et alii loco eorum surrexerunt.

19. They have vanished and gone down to Hades, and others have arisen in their place.

20. Iuvenes viderunt lumen et habitaverunt super terram; viam autem disciplinae non cognoverunt

20. Young men have seen the light of day, and have dwelt upon the earth; but they have not learned the way to knowledge, nor understood her paths, nor laid hold of her.

21. nec intellexerunt semitas eius; neque susceperunt eam filii eorum, a via eorum longe facti sunt.

21. Their sons have strayed far from her way.

22. Neque audita est in Chanaan neque visa est in Theman.

22. She has not been heard of in Canaan, nor seen in Teman;

23. Filii quoque Agar, qui exquirunt sapientiam super terram, negotiatores Merran et Theman et fabulatores et inquisitores prudentiae: viam autem sapientiae non cognoverunt neque commemorati sunt semitas eius.

23. the sons of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth, the merchants of Merran and Teman, the story-tellers and the seekers for understanding, have not learned the way to wisdom, nor given thought to her paths.

24. O Israel, quam magna est domus Dei, et ingens locus possessionis eius!

24. O Israel, how great is the house of God! And how vast the territory that he possesses!

25. Magnus est et non habet finem, excelsus est et immensus.

25. It is great and has no bounds; it is high and immeasurable.

26. Ibi fuerunt gigantes nominati illi, qui ab initio fuerunt, statura magna, scientes bellum.

26. The giants were born there, who were famous of old, great in stature, expert in war.

27. Non illos elegit Deus neque viam disciplinae dedit illis;

27. God did not choose them, nor give them the way to knowledge;

28. et perierunt, quia non habuerunt prudentiam, perierunt propter insipientiam suam.

28. so they perished because they had no wisdom, they perished through their folly.

29. Quis ascendit in caelum et accepit eam et deduxit eam de nubibus?

29. Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?

30. Quis transfretavit mare et invenit eam et apportabit eam auro electo?

30. Who has gone over the sea, and found her, and will buy her for pure gold?

31. Non est qui noverit viam eius, neque qui cogitet semitam eius.

31. No one knows the way to her, or is concerned about the path to her.

32. Sed qui scit omnia, novit eam, adinvenit eam prudentia sua; qui composuit terram in aeternum tempus, implevit eam iumentis quadrupedibus;

32. But he who knows all things knows her, he found her by his understanding. He who prepared the earth for all time filled it with four-footed creatures;

33. qui mittit lumen et vadit, vocavit illud, et oboedivit ei in tremore.

33. he who sends forth the light, and it goes, called it, and it obeyed him in fear;

34. Stellae autem splenduerunt in custodiis suis et laetatae sunt.

34. the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; he called them, and they said, "Here we are!" They shone with gladness for him who made them.

35. Vocavit eas, et dixerunt: “Adsumus”; luxerunt cum laetitia ei, qui fecit eas.

35. This is our God; no other can be compared to him!

36. Hic est Deus noster, non aestimabitur alter adversus eum.

36. He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to Jacob his servant and to Israel whom he loved.

37. Invenit omnem viam disciplinae et dedit eam Iacob puero suo et Israel dilecto suo.

37. Afterward she appeared upon earth and lived among men.

38. Post haec super terram visa est et inter homines conversata est.

38.