Wisdom 11

1She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet.

Direxit opera eorum in manibus prophetæ sancti.

2They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in desert places they pitched their tents.

Iter fecerunt per deserta quæ non habitabantur, et in locis desertis fixerunt casas.

3They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of their adversaries.

Steterunt contra hostes, et de inimicis se vindicaverunt.

4They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the hard stone.

Sitierunt, et invocaverunt te, et data est illis aqua de petra altissima, et requies sitis de lapide duro.

5For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and rejoiced:

Per quæ enim pœnas passi sunt inimici illorum a defectione potus sui, et in eis cum abundarent filii Israël lætati sunt:

6By the same things they in their need were benefited.

per hæc, cum illis deessent, bene cum illis actum est.

7For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest human blood to the unjust.

Nam pro fonte quidem sempiterni fluminis, humanum sanguinem dedisti injustis.

8And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked for:

Qui cum minuerentur in traductione infantium occisorum, dedisti illis abundantem aquam insperate,

9Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine, and didst kill their adversaries.

ostendens per sitim quæ tunc fuit, quemadmodum tuos exaltares, et adversarios illorum necares.

10For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew how the wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented.

Cum enim tentati sunt, et quidem cum misericordia disciplinam accipientes, scierunt quemadmodum cum ira judicati impii tormenta paterentur.

11For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn.

Hos quidem tamquam pater monens probasti; illos autem tamquam durus rex interrogans condemnasti.

12For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike.

Absentes enim, et præsentes, similiter torquebantur.

13For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past.

Duplex enim illos acceperat tædium et gemitus, cum memoria præteritorum.

14For when they heard that by their punishments the others were benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was come to pass.

Cum enim audirent per sua tormenta bene secum agi, commemorati sunt Dominum, admirantes in finem exitus.

15For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the just.

Quem enim in expositione prava projectum deriserunt, in finem eventus mirati sunt, non similiter justis sitientes.

16But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance:

Pro cogitationibus autem insensatis iniquitatis illorum, quod quidam errantes colebant mutos serpentes et bestias supervacuas, immisisti illis multitudinem mutorum animalium in vindictam;

17That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the same also he is tormented.

ut scirent quia per quæ peccat quis, per hæc et torquetur.

18For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,

Non enim impossibilis erat omnipotens manus tua, quæ creavit orbem terrarum ex materia invisa, immittere illis multitudinem ursorum, aut audaces leones,

19Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting horrible sparks out of their eyes:

aut novi generis ira plenas ignotas bestias, aut vaporem ignium spirantes, aut fumi odorem proferentes, aut horrendas ab oculis scintillas emittentes;

20Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also the very sight might kill them through fear.

quarum non solum læsura poterat illos exterminare, sed et aspectus per timorem occidere.

21Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight.

Sed et sine his uno spiritu poterant occidi, persecutionem passi ab ipsis factis suis, et dispersi per spiritum virtutis tuæ: sed omnia in mensura, et numero et pondere disposuisti.

22For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall resist the strength of thy arm?

Multum enim valere, tibi soli supererat semper: et virtuti brachii tui quis resistet?

23For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon the earth.

Quoniam tamquam momentum stateræ, sic est ante te orbis terrarum, et tamquam gutta roris antelucani quæ descendit in terram.

24But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

Sed misereris omnium, quia omnia potes; et dissimulas peccata hominum, propter pœnitentiam.

25For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it.

Diligis enim omnia quæ sunt, et nihil odisti eorum quæ fecisti; nec enim odiens aliquid constituisti aut fecisti.

26And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be preserved, if not called by thee?

Quomodo autem posset aliquid permanere, nisi tu voluisses? aut quod a te vocatum non esset conservaretur?

27But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls.

Parcis autem omnibus, quoniam tua sunt, Domine, qui amas animas.