Liber Ecclesiasticus, 16

1. Ne iucunderis in filiis impiis; si multiplicentur, non oblecteris super ipsos, si non est timor Dei cum illis.

1. The man who fears the Lord will do this, and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom.

2. Non credas vitae illorum et ne respexeris in labores eorum.

2. She will come to meet him like a mother, and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him.

3. Melior est enim unus timens Deum quam mille filii impii;

3. She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.

4. et potius est mori sine filiis quam relinquere filios impios.

4. He will lean on her and will not fall, and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame.

5. Ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria, tribus autem impiorum deseretur.

5. She will exalt him above his neighbors, and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.

6. Multa talia vidit oculus meus, et fortiora horum audivit auris mea.

6. He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name.

7. In synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis, et in gente incredibili exardescet ira.

7. Foolish men will not obtain her, and sinful men will not see her.

8. Non exoraverunt eum antiqui gigantes, qui rebelles fuerunt confidentes suae virtuti.

8. She is far from men of pride, and liars will never think of her.

9. Et non pepercit accolis Lot et exsecratus est eos prae superbia verbi illorum;

9. A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips of a sinner, for it has not been sent from the Lord.

10. non misertus est gentis anathematis, qui depulsi sunt in peccatis suis.

10. For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.

11. Et sicut sescenta milia peditum, qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui; et, si unus fuisset cervicatus, mirum si fuisset immunis:

11. Do not say, "Because of the Lord I left the right way"; for he will not do what he hates.

12. misericordia enim et ira est cum illo, sustinens, exorabilis et effundens iram.

12. Do not say, "It was he who led me astray"; for he had no need of a sinful man.

13. ecundum multam misericordiam suam, sic et correptio illius: hominem secundum opera sua iudicat.

13. The Lord hates all abominations, and they are not loved by those who fear him.

14. Non effugiet in rapina peccator, et non irrita erit sustinentia iusti.

14. It was he who created man in the beginning, and he left him in the power of his own inclination.

15. Omni misericordiae erit merces: unusquisque secundum meritum operum suorum inveniet coram se et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius. Dominus induravit cor pharaonis, ne agnosceret illum, ut opera sua innotescerent sub caelo. Misericordia eius apparuit omnibus creaturis eius, lucem suam et tenebras dispertiit filiis hominum.

15. If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.

16. Non dicas: “A Deo abscondar! Et, ex summo quis mei memorabitur?

16. He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish.

17. In populo magno non agnoscar; quae est enim anima mea in tam immensa creatura?”.

17. Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.

18. Ecce caelum et caeli caelorum, abyssus et universa terra et quae in eis sunt, in visitatione illius commovebuntur;

18. For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything;

19. montes simul et colles et fundamenta terrae, cum conspexerit illa Deus, tremore concutientur.

19. his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every deed of man.

20. Et in omnibus his non apponet cor, etenim omne cor intellegitur ab illo.

20. He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and he has not given any one permission to sin.

21. Et vias illius quis intellegit et procellam, quam nec oculus videbit hominis?

21.

22. Nam plurima illius opera sunt in absconsis, et opera iustitiae eius quis enuntiabit, aut quis sustinebit? Longe enim est decretum, et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est.

22.

23. Qui minoratur corde, cogitat ista, et vir imprudens et errans cogitat stulta.

23.

24. Audi me, fili, et disce prudentiam sensus,

24.

25. et dicam in aequitate disciplinam et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam; et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo. Edico in aequitate spiritus virtutes, quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio, et in veritate enuntio scientiam eius.

25.

26. Quando creavit Deus opera sua ab initio et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum,

26.

27. ornavit in aeternum opera illorum et dominatum eorum in generationibus suis. Nec esurierunt nec laboraverunt et non destiterunt ab operibus suis.

27.

28. Unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiavit,

28.

29. et usque in aeternum non erunt incredibiles verbo illius.

29.

30. Post haec Deus in terram respexit et complevit illam bonis suis;

30.

31. anima omnis vitalis cooperuit faciem ipsius, et in ipsam iterum reversio illorum.

31.