Ecclesiasticus 16

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Ne jucunderis in filiis impiis, si multiplicentur : nec oblecteris super ipsos, si non est timor Dei in illis.	1 Desire not a brood of worthless children, nor rejoice in wicked offspring.
2 Non credas vitæ illorum, et ne respexeris in labores eorum.	2 Many though they be, exult not in them if they have not the fear of the LORD.
3 Melior est enim unus timens Deum, quam mille filii impii :	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!
4 et utile est mori sine filiis, quam relinquere filios impios.	4 Through one wise man can a city be peopled; through a clan of rebels it becomes desolate.
5 Ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria : tribus impiorum deseretur.	5 Many such things has my eye seen, even more than these has my ear heard.
6 Multa talia vidit oculis meus, et fortiora horum audivit auris mea.	6 Against a sinful band fire is enkindled, upon a godless people wrath flames out.
7 In synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis, et in gente incredibili exardescet ira.	7 He forgave not the leaders of old who rebelled long ago in their might;
8 Non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antiqui gigantes, qui destructi sunt confidentes suæ virtuti.	8 He spared not the neighbors of Lot whom he detested for their pride;
9 Et non pepercit peregrinationi Lot, et execratus est eos præ superbia verbi illorum.	9 Nor did he spare the doomed people who were uprooted because of their sin;
10 Non misertus est illis, gentem totam perdens, et extollentem se in peccatis suis.	10 Nor the six hundred thousand foot soldiers who perished for the impiety of their hearts.
11 Et sicut sexcenta millia peditum, qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui : et si unus fuisset cervicatus, mirum si fuisset immunis.	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.
12 Misericordia enim et ira est cum illo : potens exoratio, et effundens iram.	12 Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges men, each according to his deeds.
13 Secundum misericordiam suam, sic correptio illius homines secundum opera sua judicat.	13 A criminal does not escape with his plunder; a just man's hope God does not leave unfulfilled.
14 Non effugiet in rapina peccator, et non retardabit sufferentia misericordiam facientis.	14 Whoever does good has his reward, which each receives according to his deeds.
15 Omnis misericordia faciet locum unicuique, secundum meritum operum suorum, et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius.	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?
16 Non dicas : A Deo abscondar : et ex summo, quis mei memorabitur ?	16 Behold, the heavens, the heaven of heavens, the earth and the abyss tremble at his visitation;
17 in populo magno non agnoscar : quæ est enim anima mea in tam immensa creatura ?	17 The roots of the mountains, the earth's foundations, at his mere glance, quiver and quake.
18 Ecce cælum et cæli cælorum, abyssus, et universa terra, et quæ in eis sunt, in conspectu illius commovebuntur.	18 Of me, therefore, he will take no thought; with my ways who will concern himself?
19 Montes simul, et colles, et fundamenta terræ, cum conspexerit illa Deus, tremore concutientur.	19 If I sin, no eye will see me; if all in secret I am disloyal, who is to know?
20 Et in omnibus his insensatum est cor, et omne cor intelligitur ab illo.	20 Who tells him of just deeds and what could I expect for doing my duty?"
21 Et vias illius quis intelligit, et procellam quam nec oculus videbit hominis ?	21 Such are the thoughts of senseless men, which only the foolish knave will think.
22 Nam plurima illius opera sunt in absconsis : sed opera justitiæ ejus quis enuntiabit, aut quis sustinebit ? longe enim est testamentum a quibusdam, et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est.	22 Hearken to me, my son, take my advice, apply your mind to my words,
23 Qui minoratur corde cogitat inania, et vir imprudens et errans cogitat stulta.	23 While I propose measured wisdom, and impart accurate knowledge.
24 Audi me, fili, et disce disciplinam sensus, et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo :	24 When at the first God created his works and, as he made them, assigned their tasks,
25 et dicam in æquitate disciplinam, et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam : et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo, et dico in æquitate spiritus virtutes quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio, et in veritate enuntio scientiam ejus.	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.
26 In judicio Dei opera ejus ab initio, et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum, et initia eorum in gentibus suis.	26 Not one should ever crowd its neighbor, nor should they ever disobey his word.
27 Ornavit in æternum opera illorum : nec esurierunt, nec laboraverunt, et non destiterunt ab operibus suis.	27 Then the LORD looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
28 Unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiabit in æternum :	28 Its surface he covered with all manner of life which must return into it again.
29 non sis incredibilis verbo illius.
30 Post hæc Deus in terram respexit, et implevit illam bonis suis :
31 anima omnis vitalis denuntiavit ante faciem ipsius, et in ipsam iterum reversio illorum.