Liber Sapientiae, 18

1. sanctis autem tuis maxima erat lux et horum quidem vocem audiebant sed figuram non videbant et quia non et ipsi per eadem passi erant magnificabant

1. But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not suffer the same things, they glorified thee:

2. et qui ante læsi erant quoniam non lædebantur gratias agebant et ut esset differentia donum petebant

2. And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a difference.

3. propter quod igni ardentem columnam ducem habuerunt ignotæ viæ et solem sine læsura boni hospitii præstitisti

3. Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a good entertainment.

4. digni quidem illi carere luce et pati carcerem tenebrarum qui inclusos custodiebant filios tuos per quos incipiebat incorruptum legis lumen sæculo dari

4. The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure light of the law was to be given to the world.

5. cum cogitarent justorum occidere infantes et uno exposito filio et liberato in traductionem illorum multitudinem filiorum abstulisti et pariter illos perdidisti in aquam validam

5. And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just, one child being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest away a multitude of their children, and destroyedst them all together in a mighty water.

6. illa nox ante cognita est a parentibus nostris ut vere scientes quibus juramentis crediderunt animæquiores essent

6. For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.

7. suscepta est autem a populo tuo sanitas quidem justorum iniustorum autem exterminatio

7. So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction of the unjust.

8. sicut enim læsisti adversarios sic nos provocans magnificasti

8. For as thou didst punish the adversaries: so thou didst also encourage and glorify us.

9. absconse enim sacrificabant justi pueri bonorum et justitiæ legem in concordia disposuerunt similiter bona et mala percepturos justos patri jam decantantes laudes

9. For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers.

10. resonabat autem inconveniens inimicorum vox et flebilis audiebatur planctus ploratorum infantium

10. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were bewailed.

11. simili autem pœna servus cum domino adflictus et popularis homo regi similia passus

11. And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a common man suffered in like manner as the king.

12. similiter ergo omnes uno nomine mortis mortuos habebant innumerabiles nec enim ad sepeliendum vivi sufficiebant quoniam uno momento quæ erat præclarior natio illorum exterminata est

12. So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. Neither were the living sufficient to bury them; for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed.

13. de omnibus enim non credentes propter veneficia tunc cum fuit exterminium primogenitorum spoponderunt populum Dei se esse

13. For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged the people to be of God.

14. cum enim quietum silentium contineret omnia et nox in suo cursu medium iter haberet

14. For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course,

15. omnipotens sermo tuus de cælo a regalibus sedibus durus debellator in mediam exterminii terram prosilivit

15. Thy almighty word leapt down from heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction.

16. gladius acutus insimulatum imperium tuum portans et stans replevit omnia morte et usque ad cælum adtingebat stans in terra

16. With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth reached even to heaven.

17. tum continuo visus somniorum malorum turbaverunt illos et timores supervenerunt insperati

17. Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears unlooked for came upon them.

18. et alius alibi projectus semivivus propter quam moriebatur causam demonstrabat

18. And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause of his death.

19. visiones enim quæ illos turbaverunt hæc præmonebant ne inscii quare mala patiebantur perirent

19. For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest they should perish and not know why they suffered these evils.

20. tetigit autem tunc et justos temptatio mortis et commotio in heremo facta est multitudinis sed non diu permansit ira

20. But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy wrath did not long continue.

21. properans enim homo sine querella propugnavit proferens servitutis suæ scutum orationem et per incensum deprecationem allegans restitit iræ et finem inposuit necessitati ostendens quoniam tuus est famulus

21. For a blameless man made haste to pray for the people, bringing forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, shewing that he was thy servant.

22. vicit autem turbas non virtute corporis nec armatura potentiæ sed verbo vexatorem subiecit juramenta parentum et testamentum commemorans

22. And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, alleging the oaths and covenant made with the fathers.

23. cum enim jam acervatim cecidissent super alterutrum mortui interstetit et amputavit impetum et divisit illam quæ ad vivos ducebat viam

23. For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to the living.

24. in veste enim poderis quam habebat totus erat orbis terrarum et parentum magnalia in quattuor ordinibus lapidum erant sculpta et magnificentia tua in diademate capitis illius erat scripta

24. For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and in the four rows of the stones the glory of the fathers was graven, and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head.

25. hæc autem his cessit qui exterminabat et hæc extimuit erat enim sola temptatio iræ sufficiens

25. And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for the proof only of wrath was enough.