Sapientia 2

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Dixerunt enim cogitantes apud se non recte : Exiguum et cum tædio est tempus vitæ nostræ, et non est refrigerium in fine hominis, et non est qui agnitus sit reversus ab inferis.	1 they who said among themselves, thinking not aright: "Brief and troublous is our lifetime; neither is there any remedy for man's dying, nor is anyone known to have come back from the nether world.
2 Quia ex nihilo nati sumus, et post hoc erimus tamquam non fuerimus. Quoniam fumus flatus est in naribus nostris, et sermo scintilla ad commovendum cor nostrum :	2 For haphazard were we born, and hereafter we shall be as though we had not been; Because the breath in our nostrils is a smoke and reason is a spark at the beating of our hearts,
3 qua extincta, cinis erit corpus nostrum, et spiritus diffundetur tamquam mollis aër ; et transibit vita nostra tamquam vestigium nubis, et sicut nebula dissolvetur quæ fugata est a radiis solis, et a calore illius aggravata.	3 And when this is quenched, our body will be ashes and our spirit will be poured abroad like unresisting air.
4 Et nomen nostrum oblivionem accipiet per tempus, et nemo memoriam habebit operum nostrorum.	4 Even our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will recall our deeds. So our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and will be dispersed like a mist pursued by the sun's rays and overpowered by its heat.
5 Umbræ enim transitus est tempus nostrum, et non est reversio finis nostri : quoniam consignata est, et nemo revertitur.	5 For our lifetime is the passing of a shadow; and our dying cannot be deferred because it is fixed with a seal; and no one returns.
6 Venite ergo, et fruamur bonis quæ sunt, et utamur creatura tamquam in juventute celeriter.	6 Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are real, and use the freshness of creation avidly.
7 Vino pretioso et unguentis nos impleamus, et non prætereat nos flos temporis.	7 Let us have our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no springtime blossom pass us by;
8 Coronemus nos rosis antequam marcescant ; nullum pratum sit quod non pertranseat luxuria nostra :	8 let us crown ourselves with rosebuds ere they wither.
9 nemo nostrum exsors sit luxuriæ nostræ. Ubique relinquamus signa lætitiæ, quoniam hæc est pars nostra, et hæc est sors.	9 Let no meadow be free from our wantonness; everywhere let us leave tokens of our rejoicing, for this our portion is, and this our lot.
10 Opprimamus pauperem justum, et non parcamus viduæ, nec veterani revereamur canos multi temporis :	10 Let us oppress the needy just man; let us neither spare the widow nor revere the old man for his hair grown white with time.
11 sit autem fortitudo nostra lex justitiæ ; quod enim infirmum est, inutile invenitur.	11 But let our strength be our norm of justice; for weakness proves itself useless.
12 Circumveniamus ergo justum, quoniam inutilis est nobis, et contrarius est operibus nostris, et improperat nobis peccata legis, et diffamat in nos peccata disciplinæ nostræ.	12 Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.
13 Promittit se scientiam Dei habere, et filium Dei se nominat.	13 He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.
14 Factus est nobis in traductionem cogitationum nostrarum.	14 To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,
15 Gravis est nobis etiam ad videndum, quoniam dissimilis est aliis vita illius, et immutatæ sunt viæ ejus.	15 Because his life is not like other men's, and different are his ways.
16 Tamquam nugaces æstimati sumus ab illo, et abstinet se a viis nostris tamquam ab immunditiis, et præfert novissima justorum, et gloriatur patrem se habere Deum.	16 He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father.
17 Videamus ergo si sermones illius veri sint, et tentemus quæ ventura sunt illi, et sciemus quæ erunt novissima illius.	17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.
18 Si enim est verus filius Dei, suscipiet illum, et liberabit eum de manibus contrariorum.	18 For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
19 Contumelia et tormento interrogemus eum, ut sciamus reverentiam ejus, et probemus patientiam illius.	19 With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.
20 Morte turpissima condemnemus eum ; erit enim ei respectus ex sermonibus illius.	20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
21 Hæc cogitaverunt, et erraverunt : excæcavit enim illos malitia eorum.	21 These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them,
22 Et nescierunt sacramenta Dei : neque mercedem speraverunt justitiæ, nec judicaverunt honorem animarum sanctarum.	22 And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.
23 Quoniam Deus creavit hominem inexterminabilem, et ad imaginem similitudinis suæ fecit illum.	23 For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him.
24 Invidia autem diaboli mors introivit in orbem terrarum :	24 But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it.
25 imitantur autem illum qui sunt ex parte illius.