Sirach 1

NEW JERUSALEM	VULGATA
1 [The Law, the Prophets,and the other writers succeeding them have passed on to us great lessons,inconsequence of which Israel must be commended for learning and wisdom. Furthermore, it is a duty, not only toacquire learning by reading,but also, once having acquired it, to make oneself of use to people outsideby whatone can say or write. My grandfather Jesus, having long devoted himself to the readingof the Law,theProphetsand other books of the Fathersand having become very learned in them,himself decided to writesomething on the subjects of learning and wisdom,so that people who wanted to learn might, by themselvesaccepting these disciplines,learn how better to live according to the Law.You are therefore askedto read thisbookwith good wil and attentionand to show indulgencein those places where, notwithstanding our efforts atinterpretation, we may seemto have failed to give an adequate rendering of this or that expression;the fact is thatthere is no equivalentfor things original y written in Hebrew when it is a question of translating them into anotherlanguage;what is more,the Law itself, the Prophetsand the other booksdiffer considerably in translation fromwhat appears in the original text. It was in the thirty-eighth year of the late King Euergetesthat, coming to Egyptand spending some time here,and finding life here consistent with a high degree of wisdom,I became convincedof an immediate duty to apply myself in my turn with pains and diligence to the translation of the book thatfol ows;and I spent much time and learning on itin the course of this period,to complete the work and to publishthe bookfor the benefit of those too who, domiciled abroad, wish to study,to reform their behaviour, and to live asthe Law requires.] All wisdom comes from the Lord, she is with him for ever.	1 (Prologus)Multorum nobis et magnorum per legem, et prophetas, aliosque qui secuti sunt illos, sapientia demonstrata est, in quibus oportet laudare Israël doctrinæ et sapientiæ causa, quia non solum ipsos loquentes necesse est esse peritos, sed etiam extraneos posse et dicentes et scribentes doctissimos fieri. Avus meus Jesus, postquam se amplius dedit ad diligentiam lectionis legis, et prophetarum, et aliorum librorum qui nobis a parentibus nostris traditi sunt, voluit et ipse scribere aliquid horum quæ ad doctrinam et sapientiam pertinent, ut desiderantes discere, et illorum periti facti, magis magisque attendant animo, et confirmentur ad legitimam vitam. Hortor itaque venire vos cum benevolentia, et attentiori studio lectionem facere, et veniam habere in illis, in quibus videmur, sequentes imaginem sapientiæ, deficere in verborum compositione. Nam deficiunt verba hebraica, quando fuerint translata ad alteram linguam : non autem solum hæc, sed et ipsa lex, et prophetæ, ceteraque aliorum librorum non parvam habent differentiam quando inter se dicuntur. Nam in octavo et trigesimo anno temporibus Ptolemæi Evergetis regis, postquam perveni in Ægyptum, et cum multum temporis ibi fuissem, inveni ibi libros relictos, non parvæ neque contemnendæ doctrinæ. Itaque bonum et necessarium putavi et ipse aliquam addere diligentiam et laborem interpretandi librum istum : et multa vigilia attuli doctrinam in spatio temporis, ad illa quæ ad finem ducunt, librum istum dare, et illis qui volunt animum intendere, et discere quemadmodum oporteat instituere mores, qui secundum legem Domini proposuerint vitam agere. Omnis sapientia a Domino Deo est : et cum illo fuit semper, et est ante ævum.
2 The sands of the sea, the drops of rain, the days of eternity -- who can count them?	2 Arenam maris, et pluviæ guttas, et dies sæculi, quis dinumeravit ? altitudinem cæli, et latitudinem terræ, et profundum abyssi, quis dimensus est ?
3 The height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, the depth of the abyss -- who can explore them?	3 sapientiam Dei præcedentem omnia, quis investigavit ?
4 Wisdom was created before everything, prudent understanding subsists from remotest ages.	4 Prior omnium creata est sapientia, et intellectus prudentiæ ab ævo.
5	5 Fons sapientiæ verbum Dei in excelsis, et ingressus illius mandata æterna.
6 For whom has the root of wisdom ever been uncovered? Her resourceful ways, who knows them?	6 Radix sapientiæ cui revelata est ? et astutias illius quis agnovit ?
7	7 disciplina sapientiæ cui revelata est et manifestata ? et multiplicationem ingressus illius quis intellexit ?
8 One only is wise, terrible indeed,	8 Unus est altissimus, Creator omnipotens, et rex potens et metuendus nimis, sedens super thronum illius, et dominans Deus.
9 seated on his throne, the Lord. It was he who created, inspected and weighed her up, and then pouredher out on al his works-	9 Ipse creavit illam in Spiritu Sancto, et vidit, et dinumeravit, et mensus est :
10 as much to each living creature as he chose -- bestowing her on those who love him.	10 et effudit illam super omnia opera sua, et super omnem carnem, secundum datum suum, et præbuit illam diligentibus se.
11 The fear of the Lord is glory and pride, happiness and a crown of joyfulness.	11 Timor Domini gloria, et gloriatio, et lætitia, et corona exsultationis.
12 The fear of the Lord gladdens the heart, giving happiness, joy and long life.	12 Timor Domini delectabit cor, et dabit lætitiam, et gaudium, et longitudinem dierum.
13 For those who fear the Lord, all wil end wel : on their dying day they wil be blessed.	13 Timenti Dominum bene erit in extremis, et in die defunctionis suæ benedicetur.
14 The basis of wisdom is to fear the Lord; she was created with the faithful in their mothers' womb;	14 Dilectio Dei honorabilis sapientia :
15 she has made a home in the human race, an age -- old foundation, and to their descendants wil shefaithful y cling.	15 quibus autem apparuerit in visu diligunt eam in visione, et in agnitione magnalium suorum.
16 The ful ness of wisdom is to fear the Lord; she intoxicates them with her fruits;	16 Initium sapientiæ timor Domini : et cum fidelibus in vulva concreatus est : cum electis feminis graditur, et cum justis et fidelibus agnoscitur.
17 she fil s their entire house with treasures and their storerooms with her produce.	17 Timor Domini scientiæ religiositas :
18 The crown of wisdom is to fear the Lord: she makes peace and health flourish.	18 religiositas custodiet et justificabit cor ; jucunditatem atque gaudium dabit.
19 The Lord has seen and assessed her, he has showered down knowledge and intelligence, he hasexalted the renown of those who possess her.	19 Timenti Dominum bene erit, et in diebus consummationis illius benedicetur.
20 The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and her branches are long life.	20 Plenitudo sapientiæ est timere Deum, et plenitudo a fructibus illius.
21	21 Omnem domum illius implebit a generationibus, et receptacula a thesauris illius.
22 The rage of the wicked cannot put him in the right, for the weight of his rage is his downfal .	22 Corona sapientiæ timor Domini, replens pacem et salutis fructum :
23 A patient person puts up with things until the right time comes: but his joy wil break out in the end.	23 et vidit, et dinumeravit eam : utraque autem sunt dona Dei.
24 Til the time comes he keeps his thoughts to himself, and many a lip will affirm how wise he is.	24 Scientiam et intellectum prudentiæ sapientia compartietur, et gloriam tenentium se exaltat.
25 Wisdom's treasuries contain the maxims of knowledge, the sinner, however, holds piety in abhorrence.	25 Radix sapientiæ est timere Dominum, et rami illius longævi.
26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will bestow it on you.	26 In thesauris sapientiæ intellectus et scientiæ religiositas : execratio autem peccatoribus sapientia.
27 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction, and what pleases him is faithfulness and gentleness.	27 Timor Domini expellit peccatum :
28 Do not stand out against fear of the Lord, do not practise it with a double heart.	28 nam qui sine timore est non poterit justificari : iracundia enim animositatis illius subversio illius est.
29 Do not act a part in public, keep watch over your lips.	29 Usque in tempus sustinebit patiens, et postea redditio jucunditatis.
30 Do not grow too high and mighty, for fear you fal and cover yourself in disgrace; for the Lord wouldthen reveal your secrets and overthrow you before the whole community for not having practised fear of the Lordand for having a heart ful of deceit.	30 Bonus sensus usque in tempus abscondet verba illius, et labia multorum enarrabunt sensum illius.
	31 In thesauris sapientiæ significatio disciplinæ :
	32 execratio autem peccatori cultura Dei.
	33 Fili, concupiscens sapientiam, conserva justitiam, et Deus præbebit illam tibi.
	34 Sapientia enim et disciplina timor Domini : et quod beneplacitum est illi,
	35 fides et mansuetudo, et adimplebit thesauros illius.
	36 Ne sis incredibilis timori Domini, et ne accesseris ad illum duplici corde.
	37 Ne fueris hypocrita in conspectu hominum, et non scandalizeris in labiis tuis.
	38 Attende in illis, ne forte cadas, et adducas animæ tuæ inhonorationem :
	39 et revelet Deus absconsa tua, et in medio synagogæ elidat te :
	40 quoniam accessisti maligne ad Dominum, et cor tuum plenum est dolo et fallacia.