Ecclesiasticus 39

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret sapiens, et in prophetis vacabit.	1 How different the man who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! He explores the wisdom of the men of old and occupies himself with the prophecies;
2 Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit, et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.	2 He treasures the discourses of famous men, and goes to the heart of involved sayings;
3 Occulta proverbiorum exquiret, et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.	3 He studies obscure parables, and is busied with the hidden meanings of the sages.
4 In medio magnatorum ministrabit, et in conspectu præsidis apparebit.	4 He is in attendance on the great, and has entrance to the ruler.
5 In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet : bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.	5 He travels among the peoples of foreign lands to learn what is good and evil among men.
6 Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum, et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.	6 His care is to seek the LORD, his Maker, to petition the Most High, To open his lips in prayer, to ask pardon for his sins. Then, if it pleases the LORD Almighty, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; He will pour forth his words of wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the LORD,
7 Aperiet os suum in oratione, et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.	7 Who will direct his knowledge and his counsel, as he meditates upon his mysteries.
8 Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit, spiritu intelligentiæ replebit illum :	8 He will show the wisdom of what he has learned and glory in the law of the LORD'S covenant.
9 et ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiæ suæ, et in oratione confitebitur Domino :	9 Many will praise his understanding; his fame can never be effaced; Unfading will be his memory, through all generations his name will live;
10 et ipse diriget consilium ejus, et disciplinam, et in absconditis suis consiliabitur.	10 Peoples will speak of his wisdom, and in assembly sing his praises.
11 Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinæ suæ, et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.	11 While he lives he is one out of a thousand, and when he dies his renown will not cease.
12 Collaudabunt multi sapientiam ejus, et usque in sæculum non delebitur.	12 Once more I will set forth my theme to shine like the moon in its fullness!
13 Non recedet memoria ejus, et nomen ejus requiretur a generatione in generationem.	13 Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters;
14 Sapientiam ejus enarrabunt gentes, et laudem ejus enuntiabit ecclesia.	14 Send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the LORD for all he has done!
15 Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille : et si requieverit, proderit illi.	15 Proclaim the greatness of his name, loudly sing his praises, With music on the harp and all stringed instruments; sing out with joy as you proclaim:
16 Adhuc consiliabor ut enarrem : ut furore enim repletus sum.	16 The works of God are all of them good; in its own time every need is supplied.
17 In voce dicit : Obaudite me, divini fructus, et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum fructificate.	17 At his word the waters become still as in a flask; he had but to speak and the reservoirs were made.
18 Quasi Libanus odorem suavitatis habete.	18 He has but to command and his will is done; nothing can limit his achievement.
19 Florete flores quasi lilium : et date odorem, et frondete in gratiam : et collaudate canticum, et benedicite Dominum in operibus suis.	19 The works of all mankind are present to him; not a thing escapes his eye.
20 Date nomini ejus magnificentiam, et confitemini illi in voce labiorum vestrorum, et in canticis labiorum, et citharis : et sic dicetis in confessione :	20 His gaze spans all the ages; to him there is nothing unexpected.
21 Opera Domini universa bona valde.	21 No cause then to say: "What is the purpose of this?" Everything is chosen to satisfy a need.
22 In verbo ejus stetit aqua sicut congeries : et in sermone oris illius sicut exceptoria aquarum :	22 His blessing overflows like the Nile; like the Euphrates it enriches the surface of the earth.
23 quoniam in præcepto ipsius placor fit, et non est minoratio in salute ipsius.	23 Again, his wrath expels the nations and turns fertile land into a salt marsh.
24 Opera omnis carnis coram illo, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis ejus.	24 For the virtuous his paths are level, to the haughty they are steep;
25 A sæculo usque in sæculum respicit, et nihil est mirabile in conspectu ejus.	25 Good things for the good he provided from the beginning, but for the wicked good things and bad.
26 Non est dicere : Quid est hoc, aut quid est istud ? omnia enim in tempore suo quærentur.	26 Chief of all needs for human life are water and fire, iron and salt, The heart of the wheat, milk and honey, the blood of the grape, and oil, and cloth;
27 Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit.	27 For the good all these are good, but for the wicked they turn out evil.
28 Quomodo cataclysmus aridam inebriavit, sic ira ipsius gentes quæ non exquisierunt eum hæreditabit.	28 There are storm winds created to punish, which in their fury can dislodge mountains; When destruction must be, they hurl all their force and appease the anger of their Maker.
29 Quomodo convertit aquas in siccitatem, et siccata est terra, et viæ illius viis illorum directæ sunt, sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira ejus.	29 In his treasury also, kept for the proper time, are fire and hail, famine, disease,
30 Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio : sic nequissimis bona et mala.	30 Ravenous beasts, scorpions, vipers, and the avenging sword to exterminate the wicked;
31 Initium necessariæ rei vitæ hominum, aqua, ignis, et ferrum, sal, lac, et panis similagineus, et mel, et botrus uvæ, et oleum, et vestimentum.	31 In doing his bidding they rejoice, in their assignments they disobey not his command.
32 Hæc omnia sanctis in bona, sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.	32 So from the first I took my stand, and wrote down as my theme:
33 Sunt spiritus qui ad vindictam creati sunt, et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua.	33 The works of God are all of them good; every need when it comes he fills.
34 In tempore consummationis effundent virtutem, et furorem ejus qui fecit illos placabunt.	34 No cause then to say: "This is not as good as that"; for each shows its worth at the proper time.
35 Ignis, grando, fames, et mors, omnia hæc ad vindictam creata sunt :	35 So now with full joy of heart proclaim and bless the name of the Holy One.
36 bestiarum dentes, et scorpii, et serpentes, et rhomphæa vindicans in exterminium impios.
37 In mandatis ejus epulabuntur : et super terram in necessitatem præparabuntur, et in temporibus suis non præterient verbum.
38 Propterea ab initio confirmatus sum, et consiliatus sum, et cogitavi, et scripta dimisi.
39 Omnia opera Domini bona, et omne opus hora sua subministrabit.
40 Non est dicere : Hoc illo nequius est : omnia enim in tempore suo comprobabuntur.
41 Et nunc in omni corde et ore collaudate, et benedicite nomen Domini.