Wisdom 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NOVA VULGATA
1 Better to have no children yet to have virtue, since immortality perpetuates its memory; for God andhuman beings both recognise it.	1 Melius est absque liberis esse cum virtute; immortalitas est enim in memoria illius, quoniam et apud Deum nota est et apud homines.
2 Present, we imitate it, absent, we long for it; crowned, it holds triumph through eternity, having strivenfor untainted prizes and emerged the victor.	2 Cum praesens est, imitantur illam; et desiderant eam, cum se eduxerit; et in perpetuum coronata triumphat, incoinquinatorum certaminum praemium vincens.
3 But the offspring of the godless come to nothing, however prolific, sprung from a bastard stock, they willnever strike deep roots, never put down firm foundations.	3 Multigena autem impiorum multitudo non erit utilis et spuriis vitulaminibus non dabit radicem in profundum altam nec stabile firmamentum collocabit.
4 They may branch out for a time, but, on unsteady foundations, they will be rocked by the wind anduprooted by the force of the storm;	4 Etenim, si in ramis ad tempus germinaverit, infirmiter posita a vento commovebitur et a nimietate ventorum eradicabitur.
5 their branches, yet unformed, wil be snapped off, their fruit be useless, too unripe to eat, fit for nothing.	5 Confringentur rami inconsummati, et fructus illorum inutilis et acerbus ad manducandum et ad nihilum aptus.
6 For children begotten of unlawful bed witness, when put on trial, to their parents' wickedness.	6 Ex iniquis enim somnis filii, qui nascuntur, testes sunt nequitiae adversus parentes in interrogatione sua.
7 The upright, though he die before his time, will find rest.	7 Iustus autem, si morte praeoccupatus fuerit, in refrigerio erit.
8 Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life;	8 Senectus enim venerabilis, non quae est diuturna, neque annorum numero computatur;
9 understanding, this is grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age.	9 cani autem sunt sensus hominis, et aetas senectutis vita immaculata.
10 Having won God's favour, he has been loved and, as he was living among sinners, has been takenaway.	10 Placens Deo factus est dilectus et vivens inter peccatores translatus est;
11 He has been carried off so that evil may not warp his understanding or deceitfulness seduce his soul;	11 raptus est, ne malitia mutaret intellectum eius, aut ne fictio deciperet animam illius.
12 for the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade, and the whirlwind of desire corrupts asimple heart.	12 Fascinatio enim nugacitatis obscurat bona, et inconstantia concupiscentiae transvertit sensum sine malitia.
13 Having come to perfection so soon, he has lived long;	13 Consummatus in brevi explevit tempora multa;
14 his soul being pleasing to the Lord, he has hurried away from the wickedness around him. Yet peoplelook on, uncomprehending; and it does not enter their heads	14 placita enim erat Deo anima illius, propter hoc properavit educere illum de medio iniquitatis. Populi autem videntes et non intellegentes nec ponentes in praecordiis talia,
15 that grace and mercy await his chosen ones and that he intervenes on behalf of his holy ones.	15 quoniam gratia et misericordia est in electis eius, et visitatio in sanctis illius.
16 The upright who dies condemns the godless who survive, and youth quickly perfected condemns thelengthy old age of the wicked.	16 Condemnat autem iustus mortuus vivos impios, et iuventus celerius consummata longaevam senectutem iniusti.
17 These people see the end of the wise without understanding what the Lord has in store or why he hastaken such a one to safety;	17 Videbunt enim finem sapientis et non intellegent quid cogitaverit de illo Deus, et quare munierit illum Dominus.
18 they look on and sneer, but the Lord wil laugh at them.	18 Videbunt et contemnent; illos autem Dominus irridebit.
19 Soon they wil be corpses without honour, objects of horror among the dead for ever. For he wilshatter them and fling them headlong and dumbfounded. He wil shake them from their foundations; they wil beutterly laid waste, a prey to grief, and their memory wil perish.	19 Et erunt post haec tamquam corpus sine honore et in contumeliam inter mortuos in perpetuum, quoniam disrumpet illos praecipites sine voce et commovebit illos a fundamentis, et usque ad supremum desolabuntur et erunt in dolore, et memoria illorum peribit.
20 When the count of their sins has been drawn up, in terror they wil come, and their crimes, confrontingthem, wil accuse them.	20 Venient in computatione peccatorum suorum timidi, et traducent illos ex adverso iniquitates ipsorum.