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Martedi, 14 maggio 2024 - San Mattia ( Letture di oggi)

Wisdom 14


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KING JAMES BIBLENOVA VULGATA
1 Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him.1 Iterum alius navigare cogitans
et per feros fluctus iter facere incipiens,
ligno portante se, fragilius lignum invocat.
2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.2 Illud enim cupiditas acquirendi excogitavit,
et artifex sapientia fabricavit.
3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;3 Tua autem, Pater, providentia gubernat,
quoniam dedisti et in mari viam
et inter fluctus semitam firmissimam,
4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.4 ostendens quoniam potens es ex omnibus salvare,
etiamsi sine arte aliquis adeat mare.
5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.5 Tu autem vis, ut non sint vacua sapientiae tuae opera,
propter hoc etiam et exiguo ligno credunt homines animas suas
et, transeuntes fluctus per ratem, liberati sunt.
6 For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.6 Sed et ab initio, cum perirent superbi gigantes,
spes orbis terrarum ad ratem confugiens,
reliquit saeculo semen nativitatis,
quae manu tua erat gubernata.
7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.7 Benedictum est enim lignum, per quod fit iustitia;
8 But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was called god.8 per manus autem, quod fit, maledictum et ipsum et qui fecit illud,
quia ille quidem operatus est,
illud autem, cum esset corruptibile, deus cognominatus est.
9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.9 Similiter autem odio sunt Deo impius et impietas eius:
10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.10 etenim, quod factum est, cum illo, qui fecit, tormenta patietur.
11 Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.11 Propter hoc et in idolis nationum erit visitatio,
quoniam in creatura Dei in abominationem facta sunt
et in tentationem animabus hominum
et in muscipulam pedibus insipientium.
12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.12 Initium enim fornicationis est exquisitio idolorum,
et adinventio illorum corruptio vitae est;
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.13 neque enim erant ab initio, neque erunt in perpetuum.
14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.14 Supervacuitate enim hominum haec advenerunt in orbem terrarum,
et ideo brevis illorum finis est inventus.
15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.15 Acerbo enim luctu dolens pater,
cito sibi rapti filii fecit imaginem
et illum, qui tunc homo mortuus fuerat,
nunc tamquam deum colere coepit
et tradidit subiectis sacra et sacrificia.
16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.16 Deinde, interveniente tempore, convalescens iniqua consuetudo
tamquam lex custodita est,
et tyrannorum imperio colebantur figmenta;
17 Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.17 quos cum in palam homines honorare non possent,
propter hoc quod longe essent,
e longinquo figura eorum efficta,
evidentem imaginem regis, quem honorare volebant, fecerunt,
ut illum, qui aberat, tamquam praesentem colerent sua sollicitudine.
18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.18 Ad incrementum autem huius culturae
provexit et hos, qui ignorabant, artificis eximia diligentia;
19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.19 ille enim volens forsitan placere illi, qui se assumpsit,
elaboravit arte sua, ut similitudinem in melius figuraret.
20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.20 Multitudo autem hominum abducta per speciem operis
eum, qui paulo ante tamquam homo honoratus fuerat,
nunc deum aestimaverunt.
21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name.21 Et haec fuit vitae humanae deceptio,
quoniam aut necessitati aut regibus deservientes homines
incommunicabile nomen lapidibus et lignis imposuerunt.
22 Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.22 Postea non suffecit errasse eos circa Dei scientiam,
sed et in magno viventes inscientiae bello,
tot et tam magna mala pacem appellant.
23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;23 Aut enim filios suos sacrificantes aut obscura sacrificia facientes
aut insaniae plenas peregrinorum rituum vigilias habentes,
24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.24 neque vitam neque nuptias mundas iam custodiunt,
sed alius alium per insidias occidit aut adulterans contristat.
25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,25 Et omnia commixta sunt:
sanguis et homicidium, furtum et fictio,
corruptio et infidelitas, turbatio et periurium,
26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.26 tumultus bonorum, gratiarum immemoratio,
animarum inquinatio, generis immutatio,
nuptiarum inordinatio, moechia et impudicitia.
27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.27 Infandorum enim idolorum cultura
omnis mali initium et causa est et finis.
28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.28 Aut enim, dum laetantur, insaniunt aut vaticinantur falsa
aut vivunt iniuste aut peierant cito.
29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.29 Dum enim confidunt in idolis, quae sine anima sunt,
male iurantes noceri se non sperant.
30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.30 Utraque autem illis evenient digne,
quoniam male censerunt de Deo attendentes idolis
et iuraverunt iniuste in dolo contemnentes sanctitatem.
31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.31 Non enim iuratorum virtus,
sed peccantium poena
perambulat semper iniustorum praevaricationem.