Liber Ecclesiasticus, 41

1. O mors, quam amara est memoria tua homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis,

1. Much labor was created for every man, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day they come forth from their mother's womb till the day they return to the mother of all.

2. viro quieto et, cuius viae directae sunt in omnibus, et adhuc valenti accipere voluptatem!

2. Their perplexities and fear of heart -- their anxious thought is the day of death,

3. O mors, bonum est iudicium tuum homini indigenti et, qui minoratur viribus,

3. from the man who sits on a splendid throne to the one who is humbled in dust and ashes,

4. defecto aetate et, cui de omnibus cura est, qui fiduciam amisit et perdidit patientiam!

4. from the man who wears purple and a crown to the one who is clothed in burlap;

5. Noli metuere iudicium mortis; memento eorum, qui ante te fuerunt et qui superventuri sunt tibi: hoc iudicium a Domino omni carni;

5. there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest, and fear of death, and fury and strife. And when one rests upon his bed, his sleep at night confuses his mind.

6. et quid resistis beneplacito Altissimi? Sive decem sive centum sive mille anni,

6. He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as though he were on watch, he is troubled by the visions of his mind like one who has escaped from the battle-front;

7. non est enim in inferno accusatio vitae.

7. at the moment of his rescue he wakes up, and wonders that his fear came to nothing.

8. Filii abominationum fiunt filii peccatorum, et qui conversantur in sedibus impiorum;

8. With all flesh, both man and beast, and upon sinners seven times more,

9. filiorum peccatorum periet hereditas, et cum semine illorum assiduitas opprobrii.

9. are death and bloodshed and strife and sword, calamities, famine and affliction and plague.

10. De patre impio queruntur filii, quoniam propter illum sunt in opprobrio.

10. All these were created for the wicked, and on their account the flood came.

11. Vae vobis, viri impii, qui dereliquistis legem Domini Altissimi!

11. All things that are from the earth turn back to the earth, and what is from the waters returns to the sea.

12. Et, si nati fueritis, in maledictione nascemini; et, si mortui fueritis, in maledictione erit pars vestra.

12. All bribery and injustice will be blotted out, but good faith will stand for ever.

13. Omnia, quae de terra sunt, in terram convertentur, sic impii a maledicto in perditionem.

13. The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a torrent, and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a rain.

14. Luctus hominum in corpore ipsorum; nomen autem impiorum non bonum delebitur.

14. A generous man will be made glad; likewise transgressors will utterly fail.

15. Curam habe de bono nomine; hoc enim magis permanebit tibi quam mille thesauri pretiosi et magni:

15. The children of the ungodly will not put forth many branches; they are unhealthy roots upon sheer rock.

16. bonae vitae numerus dierum, bonum autem nomen permanebit in aevum.

16. The reeds by any water or river bank will be plucked up before any grass.

17. Melior est homo, qui abscondit stultitiam suam, quam homo, qui abscondit sapientiam suam. Sapientia enim abscondita et thesaurus invisibilis, quae utilitas in utrisque?

17. Kindness is like a garden of blessings, and almsgiving endures for ever.

18. Disciplinam in pace conservate, filii;

18. Life is sweet for the self-reliant and the worker, but he who finds treasure is better off than both.

19. verumtamen reveremini iudicium meum:

19. Children and the building of a city establish a man's name, but a blameless wife is accounted better than both.

20. non est enim bonum omnem reverentiam observare, et non omnis pudor probatus.

20. Wine and music gladden the heart, but the love of wisdom is better than both.

21. Erubescite a patre et a matre de fornicatione et a praesidente et a potente de mendacio,

21. The flute and the harp make pleasant melody, but a pleasant voice is better than both.

22. a principe et a iudice de delicto, a synagoga et plebe de iniquitate,

22. The eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both.

23. a socio et amico de iniustitia et de loco, in quo habitas,

23. A friend or a companion never meets one amiss, but a wife with her husband is better than both.

24. de furto, de veritate Dei et testamento, de impositione cubiti super mensam et a despectione dati et accepti,

24. Brothers and help are for a time of trouble, but almsgiving rescues better than both.

25. a salutantibus de silentio, a respectu mulieris fornicariae et ab aversione vultus cognati

25. Gold and silver make the foot stand sure, but good counsel is esteemed more than both.

26. et ab auferendo partem et non restituendo

26. Riches and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is better than both. There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and with it there is no need to seek for help.

27. et a respiciendo mulierem alieni viri et a curiositate in ancillam eius, neque steteris ad lectum eius;

27. The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing, and covers a man better than any glory.

28. ab amicis de sermonibus improperii, et, cum dederis, ne improperes;

28. My son, do not lead the life of a beggar; it is better to die than to beg.

29.

29. When a man looks to the table of another, his existence cannot be considered as life. He pollutes himself with another man's food, but a man who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.

30.

30. In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet, but in his stomach a fire is kindled.