Liber Sapientiae, 17

1. magna enim sunt judicia tua et inenarrabilia verba tua propter hoc indisciplinatæ animæ erraverunt

1. For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.

2. dum enim persuasum habent iniqui posse dominari nationi sanctæ vinculis tenebrarum et longæ noctis conpediti inclusi sub tectis fugitivi perpetuæ providentiæ jacuerunt

2. For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.

3. et dum putant se latere in obscuris peccatis tenebroso oblivionis velamento dispersi sunt paventes horrende et cum admiratione nimia perturbati

3. And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly afraid and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.

4. neque enim quæ continebat illos spelunca sine timore custodiebat quoniam sonitus descendens perturbabat illos et personæ tristes apparentes pavorem illis præstabant

4. For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.

5. et ignis quidem nulla vis poterat illis lumen præbere nec siderum limpidæ flammæ inluminare poterant illam noctem horrendam

5. And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.

6. apparebat autem illis subitaneus ignis timore plenus et timore percussi illius quæ non videbatur faciei æstimabant deteriora esse quæ videbantur

6. But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:

7. et magicæ artis adpositi erant derisus et sapientiæ gloriæ correptio cum contumelia

7. And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.

8. illi enim qui promittebant timores turbationes expellere se ab anima languente hi cum derisu pleni timore languebant

8. For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.

9. nam et si nihil illos ex monstris perturbabat transitu animalium et serpentium sibilatione commoti tremebundi peribant et ærem quem nulla ratione quis effugere posset negantes se videre

9. For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear: and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.

10. cum sit enim timida nequitia dat testimonium condemnata semper enim præsumit sæva conturbata conscientia

10. For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.

11. nihil enim est timor nisi præsumptionis adiutorium proditio cogitationis auxiliorum

11. For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from thought.

12. et dum ab intro minor est expectatio majorem putat scientiam ejus causæ de qua tormentum præstat

12. And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.

13. illi autem qui inpotentem vere noctem et ab infimis et ab altissimis inferis supervenientem eundem somnum dormientes

13. But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep.

14. aliquando monstrorum exagitabantur timore aliquando animæ deficiebant traductione subitaneus enim illis et insperatus timor supervenerat

14. Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.

15. deinde si quicumque ex illis decidisset custodiebatur in carcere sine ferro reclusus

15. Moreover if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison without irons.

16. si enim rusticus quis erat aut pastor aut agri laborum operarius præoccupatus esset ineffugibilem sustinebat necessitatem

16. For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.

17. una enim catena tenebrarum omnes erant conligati sive spiritus sibilans aut inter spissos ramos avium sonus suavis aut vis aquæ decurrentis nimium

17. For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,

18. aut sonus validus præcipitarum petrarum aut ludentium animalium cursus invisus aut mugientium valida bestiarum vox aut resonans de altissimis montibus echo deficientes faciebat illos præ timore

18. Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.

19. omnis enim orbis terrarum limpido luminabatur lumine et non inpeditis operibus continebatur

19. For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were hindered in their labours.

20. solis autem illis superposita erat gravis nox imago tenebrarum quæ superventura illis erat ipsi ergo sibi erant graviores tenebris

20. But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.