Liber Sapientiae, 1
1. Diligite iustitiam, qui iudicatis terram, sentite de Domino in bonitate et in simplicitate cordis quaerite illum,
1. Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth, think of the Lord with uprightness, and seek him with sincerity of heart;
2. quoniam invenitur ab his, qui non tentant illum, se autem manifestat eis, qui fidem habent in illum.
2. because he is found by those who do not put him to the test, and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.
3. Perversae enim cogitationes separant a Deo, probata autem virtus corripit insipientes.
3. For perverse thoughts separate men from God, and when his power is tested, it convicts the foolish;
4. Quoniam in malevolam animam non introibit sapientia nec habitabit in corpore subdito peccatis.
4. because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin.
5. Spiritus enim sanctus disciplinae effugiet fictum et auferet se a cogitationibus insensatis et corripietur a superveniente iniquitate.
5. For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit, and will rise and depart from foolish thoughts, and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.
6. Spiritus enim diligens hominem est sapientia et non absolvet maledicum a labiis suis, quoniam renum illius testis est Deus et cordis illius scrutator verus et linguae eius auditor;
6. For wisdom is a kindly spirit and will not free a blasphemer from the guilt of his words; because God is witness of his inmost feelings, and a true observer of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
7. quoniam spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum, et ipse, qui continet omnia, scientiam habet vocis.
7. Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said;
8. Propter hoc, qui loquitur iniqua, non potest latere, nec praeteriet illum iudicium corripiens.
8. therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by.
9. In cogitationibus enim impii interrogatio erit, sermonum autem illius auditio ad Dominum veniet ad correptionem iniquitatum illius;
9. For inquiry will be made into the counsels of an ungodly man, and a report of his words will come to the Lord, to convict him of his lawless deeds;
10. quoniam auris zeli audit omnia, et tumultus murmurationum non absconditur.
10. because a jealous ear hears all things, and the sound of murmurings does not go unheard.
11. Custodite ergo vos a murmuratione, quae nihil prodest, et a detractione parcite linguae, quoniam sermo absconditus in vacuum non ibit; os autem, quod mentitur, occidit animam.
11. Beware then of useless murmuring, and keep your tongue from slander; because no secret word is without result, and a lying mouth destroys the soul.
12. Nolite zelare mortem in errore vitae vestrae neque acquiratis perditionem in operibus manuum vestrarum,
12. Do not invite death by the error of your life, nor bring on destruction by the works of your hands;
13. quoniam Deus mortem non fecit nec laetatur in perditione vivorum;
13. because God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living.
14. creavit enim, ut essent omnia, et sanabiles sunt generationes orbis terrarum, et non est in illis medicamentum exterminii, nec inferorum regnum in terra:
14. For he created all things that they might exist, and the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is no destructive poison in them; and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.
15. iustitia enim est immortalis.
15. For righteousness is immortal.
16. Impii autem manibus et verbis accersierunt illam; aestimantes illam amicam defluxerunt et sponsionem posuerunt ad illam, quoniam digni sunt, qui sint ex parte illius.
16. But ungodly men by their words and deeds summoned death; considering him a friend, they pined away, and they made a covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to his party.
