1 - Lodiamo gli uomini illustri, e padri della nostra stirpe! | 1 Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation. |
2 Molta gloria procacciò [loro] il Signore: la sua magnificenza è ab eterno! | 2 The Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient times. |
3 Dominarono nel loro regni, e furono uomini grandi per valore; consiglieri pieni di prudenza, e banditori di profezie; | 3 There are those who rule with their authority, men of great virtue, who are gifted with prudence. There are those who announce among the prophets, with the dignity of prophets. |
4 governarono il popolo d'allora [col loro senno], e con la loro prudenza [dettarono] ai popoli santissime massime; | 4 And there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the people. |
5 con la loro perizia inventarono melodie musicali, e composero carmi in iscritto; | 5 There are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to music. |
6 furono uomini ricchi di virtù e amanti del bello, tranquilli nelle loro case. | 6 There are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their houses. |
7 Tutti costoro acquistarono gloria presso i loro contemporanei, e a' loro tempi furono oggetto di lodi. | 7 All these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their days. |
8 E ve n'ha che lasciarono un nome, sicché si celebrano le loro lodi. | 8 They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described. |
9 E ve n'ha di cui s'è spenta la memoria; perirono, quasi non fossero esistiti, e divennero come non fossero nati, e i figliuoli loro con essi. | 9 But for some of them, there is no memorial. They have passed away as if they had never existed; and they have become as if they had never been born, and their sons along with them. |
10 Ma gli altri erano uomini di pietà, e la loro giustizia non cadde in oblio. | 10 But these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failed. |
11 Nella loro progenie perdura il benessere, | 11 Good things continue with their offspring. |
12 [e] la buona eredità [nei] loro rampolli. Nell'alleanza sta salda la loro stirpe, | 12 Their descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants. |
13 e i loro figliuoli per via di loro. In eterno durerà la potenza loro, e la loro fama non sarà distrutta. | 13 And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken. |
14 I loro corpi furon sepolti in pace e il loro nome vive di generazione in generazione. | 14 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation. |
15 La loro sapienza ricordan le folle, e le lor lodi celebra l'assemblea. | 15 Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise. |
16 Henoc piacque ai Signore e fu trasferito nel paradiso, esempio di penitenza alle genti. | 16 Enoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer repentance to the nations. |
17 Noè il giusto, fu trovato perfetto: nel tempo dell'ira divenne strumento di riconciliazione, | 17 Noah was found to be perfect and just, and so, in the time of wrath, he was made a reconciliation. |
18 Perciò rimase un residuo alla terra, quando venne il diluvio. | 18 As a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was made. |
19 Un patto eterno fu stabilito con lui, che mai più sarebbe distrutto con un diluvio ogni vivente. | 19 The covenants of the world were placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great flood. |
20 Abramo fu il gran padre d'una moltitudine di genti, e non ci fu altri pari a lui nella gloria. Egli osservò la legge dell'Altissimo e strinse alleanza con lui. | 20 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one was found to be like him in glory. He observed the law of the Most High, and he formed a covenant with him. |
21 Sulla sua carne stabili l'alleanza, e nella prova si dimostrò fedele. | 21 In his flesh, he caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithful. |
22 Perciò con giuramento [Iddio] gli assicurò, la gloria nella stirpe sua, e che lo farebbe moltiplicare come la polvere della terra, | 22 Therefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like the dust of the earth, |
23 ed esalterebbe la sua posterità come le stelle [del ciclo], e darebbe loro in possesso [ogni regione] dal mar al mare, e dal fiume sino ai confini della terra. | 23 and to exalt his offspring like the stars, and to give an inheritance to them from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. |
24 E cosi confermò ad Isacco, per motivo di Abramo suo padre. | 24 And he acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father Abraham. |
25 La benedizione di tutte le genti assicurò a lui il Signore, e il patto riconfermò sul capo di Giacobbe. | 25 The Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob. |
26 Lui riconobbe nelle sue benedizioni, e a lui dette la [promessa] eredità. E la distribuì in parti: in dodici tribù la divise. | 26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribes. |
27 fece discender da lui un uomo di pietà, che trovò grazia agli occhi d'ogni vivente, | 27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh. |