Liber Ecclesiasticus, 11

1. sapientia humiliati exaltabit caput illius et in medio magnatorum consedere illum faciet

1. The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him sit in the midst of great men.

2. non laudes virum in specie sua neque spernas hominem in visu suo

2. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his look.

3. brevis in volatilibus est apis et initium dulcoris habet fructus illius

3. The bee is small among flying things, but her fruit hath the chiefest sweetness.

4. in vestitu ne glorieris umquam nec in die honoris tui extollaris quoniam mirabilia opera Altissimi solius et gloriosa et absconsa et invisa opera illius

4. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his works are glorious, and secret, end hidden.

5. multi tyranni sederunt in throno et insuspicabilis portavit diadema

5. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would think on, hath worn the crown.

6. multi potentes pressi sunt valide et gloriosi traditi sunt in manus alterorum

6. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious have been delivered into the hand of others.

7. priusquam interroges ne vituperes quemquam et cum interrogaveris corripe juste

7. Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired, reprove justly.

8. priusquam audias ne respondeas verbum et in medio sermonum ne adicias loqui

8. Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in the midst of their discourse.

9. de re ea quæ te non molestat ne certeris et in judicio peccantium ne consistas

9. Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not in judgment with sinners.

10. fili ne in multis sint actus tui et si dives fueris non eris inmunis a delicto si enim secutus fueris non adprehendes et non effugies si præcucurreris

10. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not overtake: and if thou run before thou shalt not escape.

11. est laborans et festinans et dolens impius et tanto magis non abundat

11. There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.

12. est homo marcidus egens recuperatione plus deficiens virtute et abundans paupertate

12. Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty:

13. et oculus Dei respexit illum in bono et erexit illum ab humilitate ipsius et exaltavit caput ejus et mirati sunt in illo multi et honoraverunt Deum

13. Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified God.

14. bona et mala vita et mors et paupertas et honestas a Deo sunt

14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from God.

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15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him

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16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory in evil things, grow old in evil.

17. datio Dei permanet justis et profectus illius successus habebunt in æternum

17. The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement shall have success for ever.

18. est qui locupletatur parce agendo et hæc pars mercedis illius

18. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward.

19. in eo quod dicit inveni requiem mihi et nunc manducabo de bonis meis solus

19. In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my goods alone:

20. et nescit quod tempus prætereat et relinquet omnia aliis

20. And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.

21. sta in testamento tuo et in illo conloquere et in opere mandatorum tuorum veteresce

21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.

22. ne manseris in operibus peccatorum fide autem in Deo et mane in loco tuo

22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in thy place.

23. facile est enim in oculis Dei de subito honestari pauperem

23. For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor man rich.

24. benedictio Dei in mercedem justi festinat et in honore veloci processus illius fructificat

24. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.

25. ne dicas quid est mihi opus et quæ erunt mihi ex hoc bona

25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?

26. ne dicas sufficiens sum et quid ex hoc pessimabor

26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made worse by this?

27. in die bonorum ne inmemor sis malorum et in die malorum ne inmemor sis bonorum

27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:

28. quoniam facile coram Deo in die obitus retribuere unicuique secundum vias suas

28. For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every one according to his ways.

29. malitia horæ oblivionem facit luxuriæ magnæ et in fine hominis denudatio operum illius

29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.

30. ante mortem ne laudes hominem quemquam quoniam in filiis suis agnoscitur vir

30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children.

31. non omnem hominem inducas in domum tuam multæ enim insidiæ sunt dolosi

31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of the deceitful.

32. sicut enim eructant præcordia fetantium sicut perdix inducitur in caveam et ut caprea in laqueum sic et cor superborum et sicut prospectator videns casum proximi sui

32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall of his neighbour.

33. bona enim in mala convertens insidiatur et in electis inponet maculam

33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the elect he will lay a blot.

34. ab scintilla una augetur ignis et ab uno doloso augetur sanguis homo vero peccator sanguini insidiatur

34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.

35. adtende te a pestifero fabricat enim mala ne forte inducat super te subsannationem in perpetuum

35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.

36. admitte ad te alienigenam et subvertet te in turbore et abalienabit te a tuis propriis

36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.