Liber Sapientiae, 12

1. Incorruptibilis enim spiritus tuus est in omnibus.

1. For thy immortal spirit is in all things.

2. Ideoque eos, qui exerrant, paulatim corripis et, de quibus peccant, admones et corrigis, ut, relicta malitia, credant in te, Domine.

2. Therefore thou dost correct little by little those who trespass, and dost remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in thee, O Lord.

3. Illos enim antiquos inhabitatores terrae sanctae tuae, quos exhorruisti,

3. Those who dwelt of old in thy holy land

4. quoniam odibilia faciebant, opera medicaminum et sacrificia impia;

4. thou didst hate for their detestable practices, their works of sorcery and unholy rites,

5. et filiorum necatores sine misericordia et comestores viscerum C humanarum carnium epulationem et sanguinis - participes mysteriorum e medio comissationis

5. their merciless slaughter of children, and their sacrificial feasting on human flesh and blood. These initiates from the midst of a heathen cult,

6. et auctores caedis parentes ipsos animarum inauxiliatarum perdere voluisti per manus parentum nostrorum,

6. these parents who murder helpless lives, thou didst will to destroy by the hands of our fathers,

7. ut dignam perciperet peregrinationem puerorum Dei, quae tibi omnium carissima est terra.

7. that the land most precious of all to thee might receive a worthy colony of the servants of God.

8. Sed et his tamquam hominibus pepercisti et misisti antecessores exercitus tui vespas, ut illos paulatim exterminarent.

8. But even these thou didst spare, since they were but men, and didst send wasps as forerunners of thy army, to destroy them little by little,

9. Non quia impotens eras in acie subicere impios iustis aut bestiis saevis aut verbo duro simul exterminare;

9. though thou wast not unable to give the ungodly into the hands of the righteous in battle, or to destroy them at one blow by dread wild beasts or thy stern word.

10. sed, paulatim iudicans, dabas locum paenitentiae, non ignorans quoniam nequam erat generatio eorum, et naturalis malitia ipsorum, et quoniam non poterat mutari cogitatio illorum in perpetuum:

10. But judging them little by little thou gavest them a chance to repent, though thou wast not unaware that their origin was evil and their wickedness inborn, and that their way of thinking would never change.

11. semen enim erat maledictum ab initio. Nec timens aliquem, veniam dabas peccatis illorum;

11. For they were an accursed race from the beginning, and it was not through fear of any one that thou didst leave them unpunished for their sins.

12. quis enim dicet tibi: “Quid fecisti?”. Aut quis stabit contra iudicium tuum? Aut quis tibi imputabit, si perierint nationes, quas tu fecisti? Aut quis in contentionem tecum veniet, vindex iniquorum hominum?

12. For who will say, "What hast thou done?" Or will resist thy judgment? Who will accuse thee for the destruction of nations which thou didst make? Or who will come before thee to plead as an advocate for unrighteous men?

13. Non enim est alius Deus quam tu, cui cura est de omnibus, ut ostendas quoniam non iniuste iudicasti.

13. For neither is there any god besides thee, whose care is for all men, to whom thou shouldst prove that thou hast not judged unjustly;

14. Neque rex neque tyrannus in conspectu tuo resistere poterit tibi de his, quos perdidisti.

14. nor can any king or monarch confront thee about those whom thou hast punished.

15. Cum autem sis iustus, iuste omnia disponis; ipsum quoque, qui non debet puniri, condemnare exterum aestimas a tua virtute.

15. Thou art righteous and rulest all things righteously, deeming it alien to thy power to condemn him who does not deserve to be punished.

16. Fortitudo enim tua iustitiae initium est, et ob hoc, quod omnium Dominus es, omnibus te parcere facit.

16. For thy strength is the source of righteousness, and thy sovereignty over all causes thee to spare all.

17. Fortitudinem enim ostendis, cum non crederis esse in potentia consummatus, et horum, qui te nesciunt, audaciam traducis.

17. For thou dost show thy strength when men doubt the completeness of thy power, and dost rebuke any insolence among those who know it.

18. Tu autem, dominator virtutis, cum clementia iudicas et cum magna indulgentia disponis nos: subest enim tibi, cum volueris, posse.

18. Thou who art sovereign in strength dost judge with mildness, and with great forbearance thou dost govern us; for thou hast power to act whenever thou dost choose.

19. Docuisti autem populum tuum per talia opera, quoniam oportet iustum esse humanum, et bonae spei fecisti filios tuos, quoniam das super peccatis paenitentiam.

19. Through such works thou has taught thy people that the righteous man must be kind, and thou hast filled thy sons with good hope, because thou givest repentance for sins.

20. Si enim inimicos servorum tuorum et debitos morti cum tanta castigasti attentione et remissione dans tempus et locum, per quae possent mutari a malitia,

20. For if thou didst punish with such great care and indulgence the enemies of thy servants and those deserving of death, granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness,

21. cum quanta diligentia iudicasti filios tuos, quorum parentibus iuramenta et conventiones dedisti bonarum promissionum!

21. with what strictness thou hast judged thy sons, to whose fathers thou gavest oaths and covenants full of good promises!

22. Cum ergo das nobis disciplinam, inimicos nostros multipliciter flagellas, ut bonitatem tuam cogitemus iudicantes et, cum de nobis iudicatur, speremus misericordiam.

22. So while chastening us thou scourgest our enemies ten thousand times more, so that we may meditate upon thy goodness when we judge, and when we are judged we may expect mercy.

23. Unde et illis, qui in insipientia vitae iniuste vixerunt, per abominationes suas dedisti tormenta.

23. Therefore those who in folly of life lived unrighteously thou didst torment through their own abominations.

24. Etenim in erroris viis diutius erraverunt, deos aestimantes, quae etiam inter animalia e turpibus sunt vilia, infantium insensatorum more decepti:

24. For they went far astray on the paths of error, accepting as gods those animals which even their enemies despised; they were deceived like foolish babes.

25. propter hoc, tamquam pueris insensatis, iudicium in derisum dedisti.

25. Therefore, as to thoughtless children, thou didst send thy judgment to mock them.

26. Qui autem ludibriis increpationis non sunt correcti, dignum Dei iudicium experientur;

26. But those who have not heeded the warning of light rebukes will experience the deserved judgment of God.

27. in quibus enim ipsi patientes indignabantur, per haec, quos putabant deos, in ipsis, cum exterminarentur, videntes, illum, quem olim negabant se nosse, verum Deum agnoverunt; propter quod et finis condemnationis venit super illos.

27. For when in their suffering they became incensed at those creatures which they had thought to be gods, being punished by means of them, they saw and recognized as the true God him whom they had before refused to know. Therefore the utmost condemnation came upon them.