Liber Ecclesiasticus, 25

1. In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quae sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus:

1. Wisdom will praise herself, and will glory in the midst of her people.

2. concordia fratrum et amor proximorum et vir et mulier bene sibi consentientes.

2. In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, and in the presence of his host she will glory:

3. Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animae illorum:

3. "I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist.

4. pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.

4. I dwelt in high places, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.

5. In iuventute tua non congregasti; quomodo in senectute tua invenies?

5. Alone I have made the circuit of the vault of heaven and have walked in the depths of the abyss.

6. Quam speciosum canitiei iudicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium!

6. In the waves of the sea, in the whole earth, and in every people and nation I have gotten a possession.

7. Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosis intellectus et consilium!

7. Among all these I sought a resting place; I sought in whose territory I might lodge.

8. Corona senum multa peritia, et gloria illorum timor Dei.

8. "Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and the one who created me assigned a place for my tent. And he said, `Make your dwelling in Jacob, and in Israel receive your inheritance.'

9. Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi, et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus:

9. From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall not cease to exist.

10. homo, qui iucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum;

10. In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion.

11. beatus, qui habitat cum muliere sensata et non arat in bove et in asino simul; et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indigno se;

11. In the beloved city likewise he gave me a resting place, and in Jerusalem was my dominion.

12. beatus, qui invenit amicum verum, et qui enarrat iustitiam auri audienti;

12. So I took root in an honored people, in the portion of the Lord, who is their inheritance.

13. quam magnus, qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam, sed non est super timentem Dominum.

13. "I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon, and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.

14. Timor Dei super omnia excedit;

14. I grew tall like a palm tree in En-ge'di, and like rose plants in Jericho; like a beautiful olive tree in the field, and like a plane tree I grew tall.

15. qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur?

15. Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth the aroma of spices, and like choice myrrh I spread a pleasant odor, like galbanum, onycha, and stacte, and like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle.

16. Timor Dei initium dilectionis eius; fides autem initium adhaesionis ei.

16. Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful.

17. Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.

17. Like a vine I caused loveliness to bud, and my blossoms became glorious and abundant fruit.

18. Et omnem plagam et non plagam cordis;

18.

19. et omnem nequitiam et non nequitiam mulieris;

19. "Come to me, you who desire me, and eat your fill of my produce.

20. et omnem calamitatem et non calamitatem odientium;

20. For the remembrance of me is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance sweeter than the honeycomb.

21. et omnem vindictam et non vindictam inimicorum.

21. Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me will thirst for more.

22. Non est venenum nequius super venenum colubri,

22. Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with my help will not sin."

23. et non est ira super iram mulieris; commorari leoni et draconi placebit quam habitare cum muliere nequam.

23. All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.

24. Nequitia mulieris immutat faciem eius et obscurat vultum eius tamquam ursus. In medio proximorum eius accumbet vir eius

24.

25. et invitus suspirabit amare.

25. It fills men with wisdom, like the Pishon, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.

26. Parva omnis malitia prae malitia mulieris: sors peccatorum cadat super illam.

26. It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates, and like the Jordan at harvest time.

27. Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.

27. It makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon at the time of vintage.

28. Ne incidas in mulieris speciem et non concupiscas mulieris opes.

28. Just as the first man did not know her perfectly, the last one has not fathomed her;

29. Ira et irreverentia et confusio magna

29. for her thought is more abundant than the sea, and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.

30. mulier, si primatum habeat super virum suum.

30. I went forth like a canal from a river and like a water channel into a garden.

31. Cor humile et facies tristis et plaga cordis mulier nequam.

31. I said, "I will water my orchard and drench my garden plot"; and lo, my canal became a river, and my river became a sea.

32. Manus debiles et genua dissoluta mulier, quae non beatificat virum suum.

32. I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn, and I will make it shine afar;

33. A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.

33. I will again pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all future generations.

34. Non des aquae tuae exitum, nec modicum, nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.

34. Observe that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.

35. Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum;

35.

36. a carnibus tuis abscinde illam et dimitte illam de domo tua.

36.