Liber Ecclesiasticus, 16

1. et ne jucunderis in filiis impiis si multiplicentur non oblecteris super ipsos si non est timor Dei cum illis

1. Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.

2. non credas vitæ illorum et ne respexeris in labores illorum

2. Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.

3. melior est enim unus timens Deum quam mille filii impii

3. For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.

4. et utile mori sine filiis quam relinquere filios impios

4. And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.

5. ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria et a tribus impiis deseretur

5. By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.

6. multa talia vidit oculus meus et fortiora horum audivit auris mea

6. Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.

7. in synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis et in gente incredibili exardescit ira

7. In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out.

8. non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antiquis gigantibus qui destruxerunt confidentes suæ virtuti

8. The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sine, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:

9. et non pepercit peregrinationi illorum et execratus est illos præ superbia verbi illorum

9. And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.

10. non misertus est illis gentem totam perdens et extollentes se in suis peccatis

10. He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled them- selves in their sine.

11. et sicut sescenta milia peditum qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui et si unus fuisset cervicatus mirum si fuisset inmunis

11. So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:

12. misericordia enim et ira est cum illo potens exoratio et effundens iram

12. For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:

13. secundum misericordiam suam sic correptio illius hominem secundum operam suam judicat

13. According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.

14. non effugiet in rapinam peccator et non retardabit sufferentia misericordiam facientis

14. The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.

15. omnis misericordia faciet locum unicuique secundum meritum operum suorum et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius

15. All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.

16. non dicas a Deo abscondar et ex summo quis mei memorabitur

16. Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall remember me from on high?

17. in populo magno non agnoscar quæ est enim anima mea in tam inmensa creatura

17. In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?

18. ecce cælum et cæli cælorum abyssus et universa terra et quæ in eis sunt in conspectu illius commovebuntur

18. Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,

19. montes simul et colles et fundamenta terræ et cum conspexerit illa Deus tremore concutientur

19. The mountains also, and the hills, end the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.

20. et omne cor intellegetur

20. And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him:

21. et vias illius quis intellegit et procella quam nec oculus videbit hominis

21. And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see?

22. nam plurima opera illius sunt in absconsis opera justitiæ quis enuntiabit aut quis sustinebit longe enim est testamentum a quibusdam et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est

22. For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.

23. qui minoratur corde cogitat inania et vir inprudens et errans cogitat stulta

23. He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.

24. audi me fili et disce disciplinam sensus et in verbis meis adtende in corde

24. Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.

25. edicam in æquitate disciplinam et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam et in verbis meis adtende in corde tuo et dico in æquitate spiritus virtutes quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio et in veritate enuntio scientiam ejus

25. And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.

26. in judicio Dei opera ipsius ab initio et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum et initia ipsorum in gentibus suis

26. The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.

27. ornavit in æternum opera illorum nec esurierunt nec laboraverunt et non destiterunt ab operibus suis

27. He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.

28. unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiavit usque in ævum

28. Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.

29. non incredibiles verbo illius

29. Be not thou incredulous to his word.

30. post hæc Deus in terram respexit et implevit illam bonis suis

30. After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.

31. anima omnis vitalis denudavit ante faciem ipsius et ipsa iterum reversio illorum

31. The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.