Liber Ecclesiasticus, 34
1. Vana spes et mendax viro insensato, et somnia extollunt imprudentes.
1. No evil will befall the man who fears the Lord, but in trial he will deliver him again and again.
2. Quasi qui apprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum, sic et qui attendit ad visa noctis.
2. A wise man will not hate the law, but he who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm.
3. Hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum, ante faciem hominis similitudo faciei.
3. A man of understanding will trust in the law; for him the law is as dependable as an inquiry by means of Urim.
4. Ab immundo quid mundabitur? Et a mendace quid verum dicetur?
4. Prepare what to say, and thus you will be heard; bind together your instruction, and make your answer.
5. Divinationes et auguria et somnia vanitas est,
5. The heart of a fool is like a cart wheel, and his thoughts like a turning axle.
6. et, sicut parturientis, cor phantasias patitur. Nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio, ne dederis in illis cor tuum.
6. A stallion is like a mocking friend; he neighs under every one who sits on him.
7. Multos enim errare fecerunt somnia, et exciderunt sperantes in illis.
7. Why is any day better than another, when all the daylight in the year is from the sun?
8. Sine mendacio consummabitur verbum legis, et sapientia in ore fideli consummatio.
8. By the Lord's decision they were distinguished, and he appointed the different seasons and feasts;
9. Vir, qui peregrinatus est, multa didicit, et, qui multa expertus est, enarrabit scienter.
9. some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them he made ordinary days.
10. Qui non est expertus, pauca recognoscit, qui autem peregrinatus est, multiplicat astutiam. (11)
10. All men are from the ground, and Adam was created of the dust.
11.
11. In the fulness of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them and appointed their different ways;
12. Multa vidi errando et plurima verba intellexi;
12. some of them he blessed and exalted, and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself; but some of them he cursed and brought low, and he turned them out of their place.
13. aliquoties usque ad mortem periclitatus sum et horum causa liberatus sum.
13. As clay in the hand of the potter -- for all his ways are as he pleases -- so men are in the hand of him who made them, to give them as he decides.
14. Spiritus timentium Dominum vivet, et in respectu illius benedicetur.
14. Good is the opposite of evil, and life the opposite of death; so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
15. Spes enim illorum in salvantem illos, et oculi Dei in diligentes se.
15. Look upon all the works of the Most High; they likewise are in pairs, one the opposite of the other.
16. Qui timet Dominum, nihil trepidabit et non pavebit, quoniam ipse est spes eius.
16. I was the last on watch; I was like one who gleans after the grape-gatherers; by the blessing of the Lord I excelled, and like a grape-gatherer I filled my wine press.
17. Timentis Dominum beata est anima eius.
17. Consider that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.
18. Ad quem respicit? Et quis est fortitudo eius?
18. Hear me, you who are great among the people, and you leaders of the congregation, hearken.
19. Oculi Domini super timentes eum: protector potentiae, firmamentum virtutis, tegimen ardoris et umbraculum meridiani,
19. To son or wife, to brother or friend, do not give power over yourself, as long as you live; and do not give your property to another, lest you change your mind and must ask for it.
20. custodia offensionis et adiutorium casus, exaltans animam et illuminans oculos, dans sanitatem vitae et benedictionem.
20. While you are still alive and have breath in you, do not let any one take your place.
21. Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et iustitiae.
21. For it is better that your children should ask from you than that you should look to the hand of you sons.
22. Immolantis ex iniquo, oblatio maculata, et non sunt beneplacitae hostiae iniustorum.
22. Excel in all that you do; bring no stain upon your honor.
23. Dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus nec respicit in oblationes iniquorum nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis.
23. At the time when you end the days of your life, in the hour of death, distribute your inheritance.
24. Qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum, quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui.
24. Fodder and a stick and burdens for an ass; bread and discipline and work for a servant.
25. Panis egentium vita pauperum est; qui defraudat illum, homo sanguinis est.
25. Set your slave to work, and you will find rest; leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.
26. Qui aufert in sudore panem, quasi qui occidit proximum suum;
26. Yoke and thong will bow the neck, and for a wicked servant there are racks and tortures.
27. et effundit sanguinem, qui fraudem facit mercennario.
27. Put him to work, that he may not be idle, for idleness teaches much evil.
28. Unus aedificans et unus destruens; quid prodest illis nisi labor?
28. Set him to work, as is fitting for him, and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy.
29. Unus orans et unus maledicens; cuius vocem exaudiet Deus?
29. Do not act immoderately toward anybody, and do nothing without discretion.
30. Qui baptizatur a mortuo et iterum tangit eum: quid proficit lavatio illius?
30. If you have a servant, let him be as yourself, because you have bought him with blood.
31. Sic homo, qui ieiunat pro peccatis suis, et iterum vadens et eadem faciens. Orationem illius quis exaudiet? Aut quid proficit humiliando se?
31. If you have a servant, treat him as a brother, for as your own soul you will need him. If you ill-treat him, and he leaves and runs away, which way will you go to seek him?
