Liber Ecclesiasticus, 17
1. Deus creavit de terra hominem et secundum imaginem suam fecit illum;
1. Do not desire a multitude of useless children, nor rejoice in ungodly sons.
2. et iterum convertit illum in ipsam et secundum se vestivit illum virtute.
2. If they multiply , do not rejoice in them, unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
3. Numerum dierum et tempus dedit illi et dedit illi potestatem eorum, quae sunt super terram.
3. Do not trust in their survival, and do not rely on their multitude; for one is better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
4. Posuit timorem illius super omnem carnem, ut dominaretur bestiarum et volatilium.
4. For through one man of understanding a city will be filled with people, but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate.
5. Creavit illis consilium et linguam et oculos et aures et cor dedit illis excogitandi et disciplina intellectus replevit illos.
5. Many such things my eye has seen, and my ear has heard things more striking than these.
6. Creavit illis scientiam spiritus, sensu implevit cor illorum et mala et bona ostendit illis.
6. In an assembly of sinners a fire will be kindled, and in a disobedient nation wrath was kindled.
7. Posuit timorem suum super corda illorum ostendens illis magnalia operum suorum
7. He was not propitiated for the ancient giants who revolted in their might.
8. et dedit illis gloriari in mirabilibus illius, ut nomen sanctificationis collaudent et magnalia enarrent operum eius.
8. He did not spare the neighbors of Lot, whom he loathed on account of their insolence.
9. Addidit illis disciplinam et legem vitae hereditavit illos.
9. He showed no pity for a nation devoted to destruction, for those destroyed in their sins;
10. Testamentum aeternum constituit cum illis et iustitiam et iudicia sua ostendit illis.
10. nor for the six hundred thousand men on foot, who rebelliously assembled in their stubbornness.
11. Et magnalia honoris eius vidit oculus illorum, et honorem vocis eius audierunt aures illorum, et dixit illis: “Attendite ab omni iniquo”.
11. Even if there is only one stiff-necked person, it will be a wonder if he remains unpunished. For mercy and wrath are with the Lord; he is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath.
12. Et mandavit illis unicuique de proximo suo.
12. As great as his mercy, so great is also his reproof; he judges a man according to his deeds.
13. Viae illorum coram ipso sunt semper: non sunt absconsae ab oculis ipsius.
13. The sinner will not escape with his plunder, and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14. In unamquamque gentem praeposuit rectorem,
14. He will make room for every act of mercy; every one will receive in accordance with his deeds.
15. et pars Dei Israel factus est.
15.
16. Et omnia opera illorum velut sol in conspectu eius; et oculi eius sine intermissione inspicientes in viis eorum.
16.
17. Non sunt absconsae iniquitates illorum et omnia peccata eorum in conspectu Dei.
17. Do not say, "I shall be hidden from the Lord, and who from on high will remember me? Among so many people I shall not be known, for what is my soul in the boundless creation?
18. Eleemosyna viri quasi signaculum cum ipso, et gratiam hominis quasi pupillam conservabit.
18. Behold, heaven and the highest heaven, the abyss and the earth, will tremble at his visitation.
19. Et postea resurget et retribuet illis et retributionem unicuique in caput ipsorum convertet.
19. The mountains also and the foundations of the earth shake with trembling when he looks upon them.
20. Paenitentibus autem dedit viam reditus et confirmavit deficientes sustinere et destinavit illis sortem veritatis.
20. And no mind will reflect on this. Who will ponder his ways?
21. Convertere ad Dominum et relinque peccata tua;
21. Like a tempest which no man can see, so most of his works are concealed.
22. precare ante faciem Domini et minue offendicula.
22. Who will announce his acts of justice? Or who will await them? For the covenant is far off."
23. Revertere ad Altissimum et avertere ab iniustitia tua et nimis odito exsecrationem.
23. This is what one devoid of understanding thinks; a senseless and misguided man thinks foolishly.
24. Et cognosce iustitias et iudicia Dei et sta in sorte propositionis et orationis altissimi Dei.
24. Listen to me, my son, and acquire knowledge, and pay close attention to my words.
25. Altissimum quis laudabit in inferis pro vivis et dantibus confessionem Deo?
25. I will impart instruction by weight, and declare knowledge accurately.
26. Non demoreris in errore impiorum; ante mortem confitere: a mortuo, quasi nihil sit, perit confessio.
26. The works of the Lord have existed from the beginning by his creation, and when he made them, he determined their divisions.
27. Confiteberis vivens, vivus et sanus confiteberis et laudabis Deum et gloriaberis in miserationibus illius.
27. He arranged his works in an eternal order, and their dominion for all generations; they neither hunger nor grow weary, and they do not cease from their labors.
28. Quam magna misericordia Domini, et propitiatio illius convertentibus ad se!
28. They do not crowd one another aside, and they will never disobey his word.
29. Nec enim omnia possunt esse in hominibus, quoniam non est immortalis filius hominis.
29. After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his good things;
30. Quid lucidius sole? Et hic deficiet. Aut quid nequius quam quod excogitavit caro et sanguis? Et hoc arguetur.
30. with all kinds of living beings he covered its surface, and to it they return.
31. Virtutem altitudinis caeli ipse conspicit, et omnes homines terra et cinis.
31.
