Sapienza 17

NOVA VULGATA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Magna sunt enim iudicia tua et inenarrabilia; propter hoc indisciplinatae animae erraverunt.	1 For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.
2 Dum enim persuasum habent iniqui posse dominari nationi sanctae, captivi tenebrarum et longae noctis compediti, inclusi sub tectis, fugitivi perpetuae providentiae iacuerunt.	2 For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.
3 Et dum putant se latere in obscuris peccatis, tenebroso oblivionis velamento dispersi sunt, paventes horrende, et umbris perturbati.	3 And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly afraid and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.
4 Neque enim, quae continebat illos, spelunca sine timore custodiebat, quoniam sonitus descendentes perturbabant illos, et phantasmata tristi vultu maerentia apparebant.	4 For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.
5 Et ignis quidem nulla vis poterat illis lumen praebere, nec siderum limpidae flammae illuminare poterant illam noctem horrendam.	5 And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.
6 Apparebat autem illis tantum subitaneus ignis timore plenus, et timore perculsi illius, quae non videbatur, visionis aestimabant deteriora esse, quae videbantur;	6 But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:
7 et magicae artis appositi erant derisus, et in sapientia gloriae correptio cum contumelia.	7 And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.
8 Illi enim, qui promittebant timores et perturbationes expellere se ab anima languente, hi cum ridiculo timore languebant.	8 For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.
9 Nam, etsi nihil turbulenti illos terrebat, transitu animalium et serpentium sibilatione commoti, tremebundi peribant, et aerem, quem nulla ratione quis effugere posset, negantes se videre.	9 For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear: and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.
10 Formidinis enim suae propriae nequitia dat testimonium, cum sit condemnata; semper autem praesumit saeva perturbata conscientia.	10 For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.
11 Nihil enim est timor nisi proditio auxiliorum, quae sunt a cogitatione;	11 For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from thought.
12 et, dum ab intus minor est exspectatio, maiorem computat inscientiam eius causae, quae tormentum praestat.	12 And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.
13 Illi autem per impotentem vere noctem et ab impotentis inferni speluncis supervenientem, eundem somnum dormientes,	13 But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep.
14 aliquando a monstris exagitabantur phantasmatum, aliquando animae deficiebant proditione: subitaneus enim illis et insperatus timor infundebatur.	14 Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.
15 Itaque, si quisquam illic decidisset, custodiebatur in carcere sine ferro reclusus.	15 Moreover if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison without irons.
16 Sive enim rusticus quis erat aut pastor aut agri laborum operarius praeoccupatus, ineffugibilem sustinebat necessitatem, una enim catena tenebrarum omnes erant colligati.	16 For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.
17 Sive spiritus sibilans aut inter spissos arborum ramos avium sonus suavis aut numerus aquae decurrentis nimium aut sonus durus praecipitatarum petrarum	17 For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,
18 aut ludentium animalium cursus invisus aut mugientium ferissimarum bestiarum vox aut resonans de cavitate montium echo deficientes faciebant illos prae timore.	18 Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.
19 Omnis enim orbis terrarum limpido illuminabatur lumine et non impeditis operibus continebatur;	19 For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were hindered in their labours.
20 solis autem illis superposita erat gravis nox, imago tenebrarum, quae illos recepturae erant: ipsi ergo sibi erant graviores tenebris.	20 But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.