Liber Ecclesiasticus, 39

1. Qui autem accommodat animam suam ad timorem Dei et in lege Altissimi meditatur, sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret et in prophetiis vacabit.

1. Honor the physician with the honor due him, according to your need of him, for the Lord created him;

2. Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.

2. for healing comes from the Most High, and he will receive a gift from the king.

3. Occulta proverbiorum exquiret et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.

3. The skill of the physician lifts up his head, and in the presence of great men he is admired.

4. In medio magnatorum ministrabit et in conspectu principum apparebit.

4. The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a sensible man will not despise them.

5. In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet; bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.

5. Was not water made sweet with a tree in order that his power might be known?

6. Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum, et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.

6. And he gave skill to men that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.

7. Aperiet os suum in oratione et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.

7. By them he heals and takes away pain;

8. Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit, spiritu intellegentiae replebitur.

8. the pharmacist makes of them a compound. His works will never be finished; and from him health is upon the face of the earth.

9. Ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiae suae et in oratione confitebitur Domino.

9. My son, when you are sick do not be negligent, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.

10. Et ipse diriget consilium et disciplinam et in absconditis eius considerabit.

10. Give up your faults and direct your hands aright, and cleanse your heart from all sin.

11. Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinae suae et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.

11. Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.

12. Collaudabunt multi sapientiam eius, et usque in saeculum non delebitur.

12. And give the physician his place, for the Lord created him; let him not leave you, for there is need of him.

13. Non recedet memoria eius, et nomen eius requiretur a generatione in generationem;

13. There is a time when success lies in the hands of physicians,

14. sapientiam eius enarrabunt gentes, et laudem eius enuntiabit ecclesia.

14. for they too will pray to the Lord that he should grant them success in diagnosis and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

15. Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille, et, si requieverit, proderit sibi.

15. He who sins before his Maker, may he fall into the care of a physician.

16. Adhuc meditabor et enarrabo; ut luna die duodecimo repletus sum.

16. My son, let your tears fall for the dead, and as one who is suffering grievously begin the lament. Lay out his body with the honor due him, and do not neglect his burial.

17. Obaudite me, filii pii, et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum florebit caro vestra;

17. Let your weeping be bitter and your wailing fervent; observe the mourning according to his merit, for one day, or two, to avoid criticism; then be comforted for your sorrow.

18. quasi libanus odorem suavitatis habete,

18. For sorrow results in death, and sorrow of heart saps one's strength.

19. florete flores quasi lilium. Date vocem et collaudate canticum et benedicite Dominum in omnibus operibus suis.

19. In calamity sorrow continues, and the life of the poor man weighs down his heart.

20. Date nomini eius magnificentiam et confitemini illi in laudatione eius et in canticis labiorum et citharis; et sic dicetis in confessione:

20. Do not give your heart to sorrow; drive it away, remembering the end of life.

21. “Opera Domini universa bona valde, et omne, quod praecepit, tempore suo erit!”. Non est dicere: “Quid est hoc?” aut “Ad quid istud?”; omnia enim in tempore suo conquirentur.

21. Do not forget, there is no coming back; you do the dead no good, and you injure yourself.

22. In verbo eius stetit aqua sicut congeries, et in sermone oris illius exceptoria aquarum;

22. "Remember my doom, for yours is like it: yesterday it was mine, and today it is yours."

23. quoniam in praecepto ipsius placor fit, et non est minoratio in salutare ipsius.

23. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance cease, and be comforted for him when his spirit is departed.

24. Opera omnis carnis coram illo, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis eius.

24. The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; and he who has little business may become wise.

25. A saeculo usque in saeculum respicit, et nihil est mirabile in conspectu eius.

25. How can he become wise who handles the plow, and who glories in the shaft of a goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, and whose talk is about bulls?

26. Non est dicere: “Quid est hoc!” aut “Ad quid istud?”; omnia enim in usum suum creata sunt.

26. He sets his heart on plowing furrows, and he is careful about fodder for the heifers.

27. Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit

27. So too is every craftsman and master workman who labors by night as well as by day; those who cut the signets of seals, each is diligent in making a great variety; he sets his heart on painting a lifelike image, and he is careful to finish his work.

28. et sicut cataclysmus aridam inebriavit. Sic ira ipsius gentes, quae non exquisierunt eum, disperdet,

28. So too is the smith sitting by the anvil, intent upon his handiwork in iron; the breath of the fire melts his flesh, and he wastes away in the heat of the furnace; he inclines his ear to the sound of the hammer, and his eyes are on the pattern of the object. He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork, and he is careful to complete its decoration.

29. quomodo convertit aquas in salsuginem. Viae illius sanctis directae sunt; sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira eius.

29. So too is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel with his feet; he is always deeply concerned over his work, and all his output is by number.

30. Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio, sic peccatoribus bona et mala.

30. He moulds the clay with his arm and makes it pliable with his feet; he sets his heart to finish the glazing, and he is careful to clean the furnace.

31. Primum necessaria vitae hominum aqua, ignis et ferrum, sal, lac et panis similagineus et mel et sanguis uvae et oleum et vestimentum:

31. All these rely upon their hands, and each is skilful in his own work.

32. haec omnia sanctis in bona, sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.

32. Without them a city cannot be established, and men can neither sojourn nor live there.

33. Sunt spiritus, qui ad vindictam creati sunt et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua;

33. Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people, nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly. They do not sit in the judge's seat, nor do they understand the sentence of judgment; they cannot expound discipline or judgment, and they are not found using proverbs.

34. in tempore consummationis effundent virtutem et furorem eius, qui fecit illos, placabunt:

34. But they keep stable the fabric of the world, and their prayer is in the practice of their trade.

35. ignis, grando, fames et mors, omnia haec ad vindictam creata sunt;

35.

36. bestiarum dentes et scorpii et serpentes et romphaea vindicans in exterminium impios:

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37. in mandatis eius gaudebunt et super terram in necessitates praeparabuntur et in temporibus suis non praeterient verbum.

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38. Propterea ab initio confirmatus et consiliatus sum et cogitavi et scriptis mandavi:

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39. “Opera Domini omnia bona, et omnem usum hora sua subministrabit”.

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40. Non est dicere: “Hoc illo nequius est”: omnia enim in tempore suo comprobabuntur.

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41. Et nunc in omni corde et ore collaudate et benedicite nomen Domini.

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