Ecclesiasticus 39

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret sapiens, et in prophetis vacabit.	1 Not so with one who concentrates his mind and his meditation on the Law of the Most High. Heresearches into the wisdom of al the Ancients, he occupies his time with the prophecies.
2 Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit, et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.	2 He preserves the discourses of famous men, he is at home with the niceties of parables.
3 Occulta proverbiorum exquiret, et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.	3 He researches into the hidden sense of proverbs, he ponders the obscurities of parables.
4 In medio magnatorum ministrabit, et in conspectu præsidis apparebit.	4 He enters the service of princes, he is seen in the presence of rulers. He travels in foreign countries, hehas experienced human good and human evil.
5 In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet : bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.	5 At dawn and with al his heart he turns to the Lord his Creator; he pleads in the presence of the MostHigh, he opens his mouth in prayer and makes entreaty for his sins.
6 Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum, et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.	6 If such be the wil of the great Lord, he wil be filled with the spirit of intel igence, he wil shower forthwords of wisdom, and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.
7 Aperiet os suum in oratione, et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.	7 He will grow upright in purpose and learning, he will ponder the Lord's hidden mysteries.
8 Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit, spiritu intelligentiæ replebit illum :	8 He will display the instruction he has received, taking his pride in the Law of the Lord's covenant.
9 et ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiæ suæ, et in oratione confitebitur Domino :	9 Many wil praise his intel igence and it wil never be forgotten. His memory will not disappear,generation after generation his name will live.
10 et ipse diriget consilium ejus, et disciplinam, et in absconditis suis consiliabitur.	10 Nations wil proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will celebrate his praises.
11 Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinæ suæ, et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.	11 If he lives long, his name will be more glorious than a thousand others, and if he dies, that wil satisfyhim just as wel .
12 Collaudabunt multi sapientiam ejus, et usque in sæculum non delebitur.	12 And here are some more of my reflections: yes, I am as ful as the moon at the ful !
13 Non recedet memoria ejus, et nomen ejus requiretur a generatione in generationem.	13 Listen to me, devout children, and blossom like the rose that grows on the bank of a watercourse.
14 Sapientiam ejus enarrabunt gentes, et laudem ejus enuntiabit ecclesia.	14 Give off a sweet smel like incense, flower like the lily, spread your fragrance abroad, sing a song ofpraise blessing the Lord for all his works.
15 Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille : et si requieverit, proderit illi.	15 Declare the greatness of his name, proclaim his praise with song and with lyre, and this is how youmust sing his praises:
16 Adhuc consiliabor ut enarrem : ut furore enim repletus sum.	16 'How wonderful, the actions of the Lord! Whatever he orders is done at the proper time!' You must notsay, 'What is this? Why is that?' There is a proper time for every question.
17 In voce dicit : Obaudite me, divini fructus, et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum fructificate.	17 At his word, the water stops and piles up high, at his voice, the watery reservoirs take shape,
18 Quasi Libanus odorem suavitatis habete.	18 at his command, whatever he wants is done, no one can stop him, if he intends to save.
19 Florete flores quasi lilium : et date odorem, et frondete in gratiam : et collaudate canticum, et benedicite Dominum in operibus suis.	19 He can see whatever human beings are doing, nothing can be hidden from 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 stretches from eternity to eternity, and nothing can astonish him.
21 Opera Domini universa bona valde.	21 You must not say, 'What is this? Why is that?' for everything has been made for a purpose.
22 In verbo ejus stetit aqua sicut congeries : et in sermone oris illius sicut exceptoria aquarum :	22 As his blessing covers the dry land like a river and soaks it like a flood,
23 quoniam in præcepto ipsius placor fit, et non est minoratio in salute ipsius.	23 so retribution is his legacy to the nations, just as he has turned fresh waters to salt.
24 Opera omnis carnis coram illo, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis ejus.	24 His ways are as smooth for the devout, as they are ful of obstacles for the wicked.
25 A sæculo usque in sæculum respicit, et nihil est mirabile in conspectu ejus.	25 Good things were created from the beginning for good people, as bad ones were for sinners.
26 Non est dicere : Quid est hoc, aut quid est istud ? omnia enim in tempore suo quærentur.	26 The prime needs of human beings for living are water and fire, iron and salt, wheat-flour, milk andhoney, the juice of the grape, oil and clothing.
27 Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit.	27 Al these are good for those who are good, but turn out bad for sinners.
28 Quomodo cataclysmus aridam inebriavit, sic ira ipsius gentes quæ non exquisierunt eum hæreditabit.	28 Some winds have been created for punishing, in his fury, he uses them as scourges; on the day ofdoom, they unleash their violence and appease the wrath of their Creator.
29 Quomodo convertit aquas in siccitatem, et siccata est terra, et viæ illius viis illorum directæ sunt, sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira ejus.	29 Fire and hail, famine and death, have al been created for punishing.
30 Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio : sic nequissimis bona et mala.	30 Wild animals' fangs, scorpions, vipers, the avenging sword for the ruin of the godless:
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 all of them exult in discharging his orders, ready on earth whenever the need arises and, when theirtime comes, not fal ing short of his word.
32 Hæc omnia sanctis in bona, sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.	32 That is why I was determined from the outset, why I have pondered and why I have written,
33 Sunt spiritus qui ad vindictam creati sunt, et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua.	33 'The works of the Lord are all good, when the time is right, he gives whatever is needed.
34 In tempore consummationis effundent virtutem, et furorem ejus qui fecit illos placabunt.	34 You must not say, "This is worse than that," for, sooner or later, everything proves its worth.
35 Ignis, grando, fames, et mors, omnia hæc ad vindictam creata sunt :	35 So now, sing with al your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord!'
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.