Siracide 38

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Honora medicum propter necessitatem; etenim illum creavit Altissimus.	1 Treat the doctor with the honour that is his due, in consideration of his services; for he too has beencreated by the Lord.
2 A Deo est enim illi sapientia, et a rege accipiet donationem.	2 Healing itself comes from the Most High, like a gift received from a king.
3 Disciplina medici exaltabit caput illius, et in conspectu magnatorum collaudabitur.	3 The doctor's learning keeps his head high, and the great regard him with awe.
4 Altissimus creavit de terra medicamenta, et vir prudens non abhorrebit illa.	4 The Lord has brought forth medicinal herbs from the ground, and no one sensible wil despise them.
5 Nonne a ligno indulcata est aqua amara,	5 Did not a piece of wood once sweeten the water, thus giving proof of its power?
6 ut agnoscerent homines virtutem illius? Et dedit hominibus scientiam Altissimus, ut honoraretur in mirabilibus suis.	6 He has also given some people knowledge, so that they may draw credit from his mighty works.
7 In his curans mitigabit dolorem, et unguentarius faciet pigmenta suavitatis, ut non consumantur opera eius:	7 He uses these for healing and relieving pain; the druggist makes up a mixture from them.
8 et salus super faciem terrae.	8 Thus, there is no end to his activities; thanks to him, well-being exists throughout the world.
9 Fili, in tua infirmitate ne despicias teipsum, sed ora Dominum, et ipse curabit te.	9 My child, when you are il , do not rebel, but pray to the Lord and he wil heal you.
10 Averte a delicto et dirige manus et ab omni peccato munda cor tuum;	10 Renounce your faults, keep your hands unsoiled, and cleanse your heart from al sin.
11 da suavitatem et memoriam similaginis et impingua oblationem pro opibus tuis. Et da locum medico,	11 Offer incense and a memorial of fine flour, make as rich an offering as you can afford.
12 etenim illum Dominus creavit; et non discedat a te, quia opera eius sunt necessaria.	12 Then let the doctor take over -- the Lord created him too -- do not let him leave you, for you need him.
13 Est enim tempus, quando per manus illorum est solacium.	13 There are times when good health depends on doctors.
14 Ipsi vero Dominum deprecabuntur, ut dirigat ad rectam cognitionem et prosperet curationem.	14 For they, in their turn, wil pray the Lord to grant them the grace to relieve and to heal, and so prolongyour life.
15 Qui delinquit in conspectu eius, qui fecit eum, incidet in manus medici.	15 Whoever sins in the eyes of his Maker, let such a one come under the care of the doctor!
16 Fili, in mortuum produc lacrimas et, quasi dira passus, incipe lamentationem et secundum iudicium contege corpus illius et non despicias sepulturam illius.	16 My child, shed tears over the dead, lament for the dead to show your sorrow, then bury the body withdue ceremony and do not fail to honour the grave.
17 Amare fer fletum et perfice lamentum	17 Weep bitterly, beat your breast, observe the mourning the dead deserves for a day or two, to avoidcensorious comment, and then be comforted in your sorrow;
18 et fac luctum secundum meritum eius, uno die vel duobus propter detractionem, et consolare propter tristitiam.	18 for grief can lead to death, a grief-stricken heart loses al energy.
19 A tristitia enim festinat mors, et tristitia cordis flectit virtutem.	19 In affliction sorrow persists, a life of grief is hard to bear.
20 In abductione permanet tristitia, et vita inopis maledictio cordis.	20 Do not abandon your heart to grief, drive it away, bear your own end in mind.
21 Ne dederis in tristitia cor tuum, sed repelle eam a te et memento novissimorum.	21 Do not forget, there is no coming back; you cannot help the dead, and you will harm yourself.
22 Ne ultra memineris: neque enim est conversio; et huic nihil proderis et teipsum pessimabis.	22 'Remember my doom, since it will be yours too; I yesterday, you today!'
23 Memor esto iudicii eius, sic enim erit et tuum: mihi heri, et tibi hodie.	23 Once the dead are laid to rest, let their memory rest, do not fret for them, once their spirit departs.
24 In requie mortui requiescere fac memoriam eius et consolare in illo in exitu spiritus sui.	24 Leisure gives the scribe the chance to acquire wisdom; a man with few commitments can grow wise.
25 Sapientia scribae in opportunitate vacationis; et, qui minoratur operatione, ipse sapientia replebitur. Qua sapientia replebitur,	25 How can the ploughman become wise, whose sole ambition is to wield the goad, driving his oxen,engrossed in their work, his conversation limited to bul ocks,
26 qui tenet aratrum et qui gloriatur in iaculo stimuli? Boves agitat et conversatur in operibus eorum, et enarratio eius in filiis taurorum.	26 his thoughts absorbed in the furrows he traces and his long evenings spent in fattening heifers?
27 Cor suum dabit ad versandos sulcos, et vigilia eius in sagina vaccarum.	27 Similarly with al workmen and craftsmen, toiling day and night; those who engrave seals, for evertrying to think of a new design, concentrating on catching a good likeness and staying up late to get the workdone.
28 Sic omnis faber et architectus, qui noctem tamquam diem transigit, qui sculpit signacula sculptilia, et assiduitas eius variare picturam; cor suum dabit in similitudinem picturae, et vigilia sua perficere opus.	28 Similarly with the blacksmith sitting by his anvil; he considers what to do with the pig-iron, the breath ofthe fire scorches his skin, as he contends with the heat of the furnace; the noise of the hammer deafens him, hiseyes are fixed on the pattern; he concentrates on getting the job done wel and stays up late to apply thefinishing touches.
29 Sic faber ferrarius sedens iuxta incudem et considerans opus ferri; vapor ignis uret carnes eius, et in calore fornacis concertatur.	29 Similarly with the potter, sitting at his work, turning the wheel with his feet; constantly on the alert overhis work, each flick of the finger premeditated;
30 Vox mallei exsurdat aurem eius, et contra similitudinem vasis oculus eius.	30 he pummels the clay with his arm, and with his feet he kneads it; he concentrates on applying theglaze right and stays up late to clean the kiln.
31 Cor suum dabit in consummationem operum et vigilia sua ornare in perfectionem.	31 Al these people rely on their hands and each is skilled at his own craft.
32 Sic figulus sedens ad opus suum, convertens pedibus suis rotam, qui in sollicitudine positus est semper propter opus suum, et in numero est omnis operatio eius;	32 A town could not be inhabited without them, there would be no settling, no travel ing.
33 in brachio suo formabit lutum et ante canos suos curvabit virtutem suam:	33 But you wil not find them in the parliament, they do not hold high rank in the assembly. They do not siton the judicial bench, and they do not meditate on the Law.
34 cor suum dabit, ut consummet linitionem, et vigilia sua mundare fornacem.	34 They are not remarkable for their culture or judgement, nor are they found frequenting thephilosophers. They sustain the structure of the world, and their prayer is concerned with their trade.
35 Omnes hi in manibus suis speraverunt, et unusquisque in arte sua sapiens est.
36 Sine his omnibus non aedificabitur civitas,
37 et non inhabitabunt nec inambulabunt. Verumtamen in consilium populi non requirentur et in ecclesiam non transilient;
38 super sellam iudicis non sedebunt et decretum iudicii non intellegent neque palam facient disciplinam et iudicium et in parabolis non invenientur;
39 sed creaturam laboris confirmabunt, et sollicitudo illorum in operatione artis.