Liber Ecclesiasticus, 23

1. Domine pater et dominator vitæ meæ non relinquas me ne sinas me cadere in illis

1. And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and meddle not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not escape free from them.

2. quis superponet in me in cogitatu meo flagella et in corde meo doctrinam sapientiæ ut ignorationibus eorum non parcant mihi et non pareant delicta illorum

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3. et adincrescant ignorantiæ meæ et multiplicentur delicta mea et peccata mea abundent et incidam in conspectu adversariorum et gaudeat inimicus meus

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4. Domine pater et Deus vitæ meæ ne derelinquas me in cogitatu illorum

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5. extollentiam oculorum meorum ne dederis mihi et omne desiderium averte a me

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6. aufer a me ventris concupiscentias et concubitus concupiscentiæ ne adprehendant me et animæ inreverenti et infrunitæ ne tradas me

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7. doctrina oris doctrinam oris audite filii et qui custodierit illam non periet in labiis suis nec scandalizabitur in operibus nequissimis

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8. in vanitate sua adprehendetur peccator et superbus et maledicus scandalizabitur in illo

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9. jurationi non adsuescat os tuum multus enim casus in illa

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10. nominatio vero Dei non sit adsidua in ore tuo et nominibus sanctorum non admiscearis quoniam non eris inmunis ab eis

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11. sicut enim servus interrogatus adsidue a livore non minuetur sic omnis jurans et nominans in toto a peccato non purgabitur

11. For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without a blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall not be wholly pure from sin.

12. vir multum jurans implebitur iniquitate et non discedet a domo illius plaga

12. A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity, and a scourge shall not depart from his house.

13. et si frustraverit delictum ipsius super ipsum erit et si dissimulaverit delinquet dupliciter

13. And if he make it void, his sin shall be upon him: and if he dissemble it, he offendeth double:

14. et si in vacuum juraverit non justificabitur replebitur enim retributione domus illius

14. And if he swear in vain, he shall not be justified: for his house shall be filled with his punishment.

15. est et alia loquella contraria morti non inveniatur in hereditate Jacob

15. There is also another speech opposite to death, let it not be found in the inheritance of Jacob.

16. etenim a misericordibus omnia hæc auferentur et in delictis non volutabunt

16. For from the merciful all these things shall be taken away, and they shall not wallow in sins.

17. indisciplinose non adsuescat os tuum est enim in illa verbum peccati

17. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to indiscreet speech: for therein is the word of sin.

18. memento patris et matris tuæ in medio enim magnatorum consistis

18. Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest is the midst of great men:

19. ne forte obliviscatur te in conspectu illorum et adsiduitate tua infatuatus inproperium patiaris et maluisses non nasci et diem nativitatis tuæ maledicas

19. Lest God forget thee in their sight, and thou, by thy daily custom, be infatuated and suffer reproach: and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse the day of thy nativity.

20. homo adsuetus in verbis inproperii in omnibus diebus suis non erudietur

20. The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will never be corrected all the days of his life.

21. duo genera abundant in peccatis et tertium adducit iram et perditionem

21. Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third bringeth wrath and destruction.

22. anima calida quasi ignis ardens non extinguetur donec aliquid gluttiat

22. A hot soul is a burning fire, it will never be quenched, till it devour some thing.

23. et homo nequam in ore carnis suæ non desinet donec incendat ignem

23. And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will not leave off till he hath kindled a fire.

24. homini fornicario omnis panis dulcis non cessabit transgrediens a lecto suo

24. To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will not be weary of sinning unto the end.

25. omnis homo qui transgreditur lectum suum contemnens in animam suam et dicens quis me videt

25. Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his own soul, and saying: Who seeth me?

26. tenebræ circumdant me et parietes cooperiunt me et nemo circumspicit me quem vereor delictorum meorum non memorabitur Altissimus

26. Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and no man seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not remember my sins.

27. et non intelleget quoniam omnia videt oculus illius quoniam expellit a se timorem Dei hujusmodi hominis timor et oculi hominum timentes illum

27. And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things, for such a man's fear driveth from him the fear of God, and the eyes of men fearing him:

28. et non cognovit quoniam oculi Domini multo plus lucidiores super solem circumspicientes omnes vias hominum et profundum abyssi et hominum corda intuentes in absconsas partes

28. And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most hidden parts.

29. Domino enim Deo antequam crearentur omnia sunt agnita sic et post perfectum respicit omnia

29. For all things were known to the Lord God, before they were created: so also after they were perfected he beholdeth all things.

30. hic in plateis civitatis vindicabitur quasi pullus equinus fugabitur et ubi non speravit adprehendetur

30. This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and he shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not, he shall be taken.

31. et erit dedecus omnibus quod non intellexerit timorem Dei

31. And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he understood not the fear of the Lord.

32. sic et mulier omnis relinquens virum suum et statuens hereditatem ex alieno matrimonio

32. So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another :

33. primo enim in lege Altissimi incredibilis fuit et secundo virum suum dereliquit tertio in adulterio fornicata est et ex alio viro filios statuit sibi

33. For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath fornicated in adultery, end hath gotten her children of another man.

34. hæc in ecclesiam adducetur et in filios ejus respicietur

34. This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and inquisition shall be made of her children.

35. non tradent filii ejus radices et rami ejus non dabunt fructum

35. Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit.

36. derelinquent in maledictum memoriam illius et dedecus illius non delebitur

36. She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy shall not be blotted out.

37. et agnoscent qui derelicti sunt quoniam nihil melius quam timor Dei et nihil dulcius quam respicere in mandatis Domini

37. And they that remain shall know. that there is nothing better than the fear of God: and that there is nothing sweeter than to have regard to the commandments of the Lord.

38. et gloria magna est sequi Dominum longitudo enim dierum adsumetur ab eo

38. It is great glory to follow the Lord for length of days shall be received from him.