Wisdom 3

1But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.

Justorum autem animæ in manu Dei sunt, et non tangent illos tormentum mortis.

2In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:

Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori, et æstimata est afflictio exitus illorum,

3And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.

et quod a nobis est iter exterminium; illi autem sunt in pace:

4And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.

etsi coram hominibus tormenta passi sunt, spes illorum immortalitate plena est.

5Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.

In paucis vexati sunt, in multis bene disponentur, quoniam Deus tentavit eos, et invenit illos dignos se.

6As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.

Tamquam aurum in fornace probavit illos, et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos, et in tempore erit respectus illorum.

7The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds.

Fulgebunt justi et tamquam scintillæ in arundineto discurrent.

8They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

Judicabunt nationes, et dominabuntur populis, et regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum.

9They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his elect.

Qui confidunt in illo intelligent veritatem, et fideles in dilectione acquiescent illi, quoniam donum et pax est electis ejus.

10But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord.

Impii autem secundum quæ cogitaverunt correptionem habebunt: qui neglexerunt justum, et a Domino recesserunt.

11For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works unprofitable.

Sapientiam enim et disciplinam qui abjicit infelix est: et vacua est spes illorum, et labores sine fructu, et inutilia opera eorum.

12Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked.

Mulieres eorum insensatæ sunt, et nequissimi filii eorum.

13Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls.

Maledicta creatura eorum, quoniam felix est sterilis; et incoinquinata, quæ nescivit thorum in delicto, habebit fructum in respectione animarum sanctarum;

14And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God.

et spado qui non operatus est per manus suas iniquitatem, nec cogitavit adversus Deum nequissima: dabitur enim illi fidei donum electum, et sors in templo Dei acceptissima.

15For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom never faileth.

Bonorum enim laborum gloriosus est fructus, et quæ non concidat radix sapientiæ.

16But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.

Filii autem adulterorum in inconsummatione erunt, et ab iniquo thoro semen exterminabitur.

17And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their last old age shall be without honour.

Et si quidem longæ vitæ erunt, in nihilum computabuntur, et sine honore erit novissima senectus illorum:

18And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of comfort in the day of trial.

et si celerius defuncti fuerint, non habebunt spem, nec in die agnitionis allocutionem.

19For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race.

Nationis enim iniquæ diræ sunt consummationes.