Sirach 16

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NOVA VULGATA
1 Desire not a brood of worthless children, nor rejoice in wicked offspring.	1 Ne iucunderis in filiis impiis; si multiplicentur, non oblecteris superipsos, si non est timor Dei cum illis.
2 Many though they be, exult not in them if they have not the fear of the LORD.	2 Non credas vitae illorum et ne respexeris in labores eorum.
3 Count not on their length of life, have no hope in their future. For one can be better than a thousand; rather die childless than have godless children!	3 Melior est enim unus timens Deum quam mille filii impii;
4 Through one wise man can a city be peopled; through a clan of rebels it becomes desolate.	4 et potius est mori sine filiis quam relinquere filios impios.
5 Many such things has my eye seen, even more than these has my ear heard.	5 Ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria, tribus autem impiorum deseretur.
6 Against a sinful band fire is enkindled, upon a godless people wrath flames out.	6 Multa talia vidit oculus meus, et fortiora horum audivit auris mea.
7 He forgave not the leaders of old who rebelled long ago in their might;	7 In synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis, et in gente incredibili exardescet ira.
8 He spared not the neighbors of Lot whom he detested for their pride;	8 Non exoraverunt eum antiqui gigantes, qui rebelles fuerunt confidentes suae virtuti.
9 Nor did he spare the doomed people who were uprooted because of their sin;	9 Et non pepercit accolis Lot et exsecratus est eos prae superbia verbi illorum;
10 Nor the six hundred thousand foot soldiers who perished for the impiety of their hearts.	10 non misertus est gentis anathematis, qui depulsi sunt in peccatis suis.
11 And had there been but one stiffnecked man, it were a wonder had he gone unpunished. For mercy and anger alike are with him who remits and forgives, though on the wicked alights his wrath.	11 Et sicut sescenta milia peditum, qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui; et, si unus fuisset cervicatus, mirum si fuisset immunis:
12 Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges men, each according to his deeds.	12 misericordia enim et ira est cum illo, sustinens, exorabilis et effundens iram.
13 A criminal does not escape with his plunder; a just man's hope God does not leave unfulfilled.	13 ecundum multam misericordiam suam, sic et correptio illius: hominem secundum opera sua iudicat.
14 Whoever does good has his reward, which each receives according to his deeds.	14 Non effugiet in rapina peccator, et non irrita erit sustinentia iusti.
15 Say not: "I am hidden from God; in heaven who remembers me? Among so many people I cannot be known; what am I in the world of spirits?	15 Omni misericordiae erit merces: unusquisque secundum meritum operum suorum inveniet coram se et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius. Dominus induravit cor pharaonis, ne agnosceret illum, ut opera sua innotescerent sub caelo. Misericordia eius apparuit omnibus creaturis eius, lucem suam et tenebras dispertiit filiis hominum.
16 Behold, the heavens, the heaven of heavens, the earth and the abyss tremble at his visitation;	16 Non dicas: “ A Deo abscondar! Et, ex summo quis mei memorabitur?
17 The roots of the mountains, the earth's foundations, at his mere glance, quiver and quake.	17 In populo magno non agnoscar; quae est enim anima mea in tam immensa creatura? ”.
18 Of me, therefore, he will take no thought; with my ways who will concern himself?	18 Ecce caelum et caeli caelorum, abyssus et universa terra et quae in eis sunt, in visitatione illius commovebuntur;
19 If I sin, no eye will see me; if all in secret I am disloyal, who is to know?	19 montes simul et colles et fundamenta terrae, cum conspexerit illa Deus, tremore concutientur.
20 Who tells him of just deeds and what could I expect for doing my duty?"	20 Et in omnibus his non apponet cor, etenim omne cor intellegitur ab illo.
21 Such are the thoughts of senseless men, which only the foolish knave will think.	21 Et vias illius quis intellegit et procellam, quam nec oculus videbit hominis?
22 Hearken to me, my son, take my advice, apply your mind to my words,	22 Nam plurima illius opera sunt in absconsis, et opera iustitiae eius quis enuntiabit, aut quis sustinebit? Longe enim est decretum, et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est.
23 While I propose measured wisdom, and impart accurate knowledge.	23 Qui minoratur corde, cogitat ista, et vir imprudens et errans cogitat stulta.
24 When at the first God created his works and, as he made them, assigned their tasks,	24 Audi me, fili, et disce prudentiam sensus,
25 He ordered for all time what they were to do and their domains from generation to generation. They were not to hunger, nor grow weary, nor ever cease from their tasks.	25 et dicam in aequitate disciplinam et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam; et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo. Edico in aequitate spiritus virtutes, quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio, et in veritate enuntio scientiam eius.
26 Not one should ever crowd its neighbor, nor should they ever disobey his word.	26 Quando creavit Deus opera sua ab initio et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum,
27 Then the LORD looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.	27 ornavit in aeternum opera illorum et dominatum eorum in generationibus suis. Nec esurierunt nec laboraverunt et non destiterunt ab operibus suis.
28 Its surface he covered with all manner of life which must return into it again.	28 Unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiavit,
	29 et usque in aeternum non erunt incredibiles verbo illius.
	30 Post haec Deus in terram respexit et complevit illam bonis suis;
	31 anima omnis vitalis cooperuit faciem ipsius, et in ipsam iterum reversio illorum.