Ecclesiasticus 39

1The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.

Sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret sapiens, et in prophetis vacabit.

2He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.

Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit, et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.

3He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.

Occulta proverbiorum exquiret, et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.

4He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor.

In medio magnatorum ministrabit, et in conspectu præsidis apparebit.

5He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.

In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet: bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.

6He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.

Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum, et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.

7He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.

Aperiet os suum in oratione, et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.

8For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:

Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit, spiritu intelligentiæ replebit illum:

9And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.

et ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiæ suæ, et in oratione confitebitur Domino:

10And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

et ipse diriget consilium ejus, et disciplinam, et in absconditis suis consiliabitur.

11He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinæ suæ, et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.

12Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.

Collaudabunt multi sapientiam ejus, et usque in sæculum non delebitur.

13The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.

Non recedet memoria ejus, et nomen ejus requiretur a generatione in generationem.

14Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.

Sapientiam ejus enarrabunt gentes, et laudem ejus enuntiabit ecclesia.

15If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.

Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille: et si requieverit, proderit illi.

16I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.

Adhuc consiliabor ut enarrem: ut furore enim repletus sum.

17By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.

In voce dicit: Obaudite me, divini fructus, et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum fructificate.

18Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.

Quasi Libanus odorem suavitatis habete.

19Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.

Florete flores quasi lilium: et date odorem, et frondete in gratiam: et collaudate canticum, et benedicite Dominum in operibus suis.

20Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:

Date nomini ejus magnificentiam, et confitemini illi in voce labiorum vestrorum, et in canticis labiorum, et citharis: et sic dicetis in confessione:

21All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.

Opera Domini universa bona valde.

22At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:

In verbo ejus stetit aqua sicut congeries: et in sermone oris illius sicut exceptoria aquarum:

23For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.

quoniam in præcepto ipsius placor fit, et non est minoratio in salute ipsius.

24The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.

Opera omnis carnis coram illo, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis ejus.

25He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.

A sæculo usque in sæculum respicit, et nihil est mirabile in conspectu ejus.

26There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.

Non est dicere: Quid est hoc, aut quid est istud? omnia enim in tempore suo quærentur.

27His blessing hath overflowed like a river.

Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit.

28And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him.

Quomodo cataclysmus aridam inebriavit, sic ira ipsius gentes quæ non exquisierunt eum hæreditabit.

29Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.

Quomodo convertit aquas in siccitatem, et siccata est terra, et viæ illius viis illorum directæ sunt, sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira ejus.

30Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.

Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio: sic nequissimis bona et mala.

31The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

Initium necessariæ rei vitæ hominum, aqua, ignis, et ferrum, sal, lac, et panis similagineus, et mel, et botrus uvæ, et oleum, et vestimentum.

32All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.

Hæc omnia sanctis in bona, sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.

33There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.

Sunt spiritus qui ad vindictam creati sunt, et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua.

34In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.

In tempore consummationis effundent virtutem, et furorem ejus qui fecit illos placabunt.

35Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.

Ignis, grando, fames, et mors, omnia hæc ad vindictam creata sunt:

36The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

bestiarum dentes, et scorpii, et serpentes, et rhomphæa vindicans in exterminium impios.

37In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not transgress his word.

In mandatis ejus epulabuntur: et super terram in necessitatem præparabuntur, et in temporibus suis non præterient verbum.

38Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing,

Propterea ab initio confirmatus sum, et consiliatus sum, et cogitavi, et scripta dimisi.

39All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.

Omnia opera Domini bona, et omne opus hora sua subministrabit.

40It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.

Non est dicere: Hoc illo nequius est: omnia enim in tempore suo comprobabuntur.

41Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and bless the name of the Lord.

Et nunc in omni corde et ore collaudate, et benedicite nomen Domini.