Wisdom 18

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	VULGATA
1 But your saints were your greatest light, and they heard your voice, but did not see your form. And because they themselves did not also suffer the same things, they praised you greatly.	1 Sanctis autem tuis maxima erat lux, et horum quidem vocem audiebant, sed figuram non videbant. Et quia non et ipsi eadem passi erant, magnificabant te ;
2 And those who were wounded before, gave thanks, because they were no longer being wounded, and because they had petitioned for this gift, that there would be this difference.	2 et qui ante læsi erant, quia non lædebantur, gratias agebant, et ut esset differentia, donum petebant.
3 Because of this, they had a burning column of fire as a guide on the unknown way, and you displayed a harmless sun of a good hospitality.	3 Propter quod ignis ardentem columnam ducem habuerunt ignotæ viæ, et solem sine læsura boni hospitii præstitisti.
4 The others, indeed, deserved to be deprived of the light and to endure a prison of darkness, who watched for an opportunity to imprison your sons, by whom the incorruptible light of the law was beginning to be given to future generations.	4 Digni quidem illi carere luce, et pati carcerem tenebrarum, qui inclusos custodiebant filios tuos, per quos incipiebat incorruptum legis lumen sæculo dari.
5 When they thought to kill the babes of the just, one son having been exposed and set free, to their disgrace, you took away a multitude of their sons and destroyed them all together in a mighty water.	5 Cum cogitarent justorum occidere infantes, et uno exposito filio et liberato, in traductionem illorum, multitudinem filiorum abstulisti, et pariter illos perdidisti in aqua valida.
6 For that night was known beforehand by our fathers, so that, knowing the truth of the oaths in which they had trusted, they might be more peaceful in their souls.	6 Illa enim nox ante cognita est a patribus nostris, ut vere scientes quibus juramentis crediderunt, animæquiores essent.
7 Yet your people received not only the salvation of the just, but also the destruction of the unjust.	7 Suscepta est autem a populo tuo sanitas quidem justorum, injustorum autem exterminatio.
8 For just as you wounded our adversaries, so also did you greatly esteem calling us forth.	8 Sicut enim læsisti adversarios, sic et nos provocans magnificasti.
9 For the just children of goodness were secretly offering sacrifice, and in agreement they administered the law of justice, so that both good and bad would be able to receive justice, and so that you might now approve of their chanting to the father.	9 Absconse enim sacrificabant justi pueri bonorum, et justitiæ legem in concordia disposuerunt ; similiter et bona et mala recepturos justos, patrum jam decantantes laudes.
10 On the other hand, a dissimilar voice was resounding from the enemies, and a lamentable wailing was heard for the children who were being cried over.	10 Resonabat autem inconveniens inimicorum vox, et flebilis audiebatur planctus ploratorum infantium.
11 But the same punishment afflicted the servant with the master, and the common man endured the same as the king.	11 Simili autem pœna servus cum domino afflictus est, et popularis homo regi similia passus.
12 Therefore, all were the same, with one name for death, and the dead were innumerable. For neither were the living sufficient to bury the dead, because, with a single effort, their most illustrious nation was exterminated.	12 Similiter ergo omnes, uno nomine mortis, mortuos habebant innumerabiles : nec enim ad sepeliendum vivi sufficiebant, quoniam uno momento quæ erat præclarior natio illorum exterminata est.
13 For they would not believe anything because of the drugs; then truly, at the beginning, when the extermination of the firstborn happened, they pledged the people to belong to God.	13 De omnibus enim non credentes, propter veneficia ; tunc vero primum cum fuit exterminium primogenitorum, spoponderunt populum Dei esse.
14 For, when a quiet silence surrounded all things, and when the course of the night was passing the middle of its journey,	14 Cum enim quietum silentium contineret omnia, et nox in suo cursu medium iter haberet,
15 your almighty word from heaven leapt down from your royal throne, as a fierce warrior in the midst of the land of extermination,	15 omnipotens sermo tuus de cælo, a regalibus sedibus, durus debellator in mediam exterminii terram prosilivit,
16 as a sharp sword carrying your unfeigned authority, and standing, filled all things with death, and, standing on the earth, reached all the way up to touch heaven.	16 gladius acutus insimulatum imperium tuum portans : et stans, replevit omnia morte, et usque ad cælum attingebat stans in terra.
17 Then, incessant visions of nightmares disturbed them, and unexpected fears overcame them.	17 Tunc continuo visus somniorum malorum turbaverunt illos, et timores supervenerunt insperati.
18 And another was thrown down elsewhere half-alive; and so, by means of that which was dying, the cause of death was revealed.	18 Et alius alibi projectus semivivus, propter quam moriebatur causam demonstrabat mortis.
19 For the visions that disturbed them had forewarned of these things, lest they should perish and not know why they suffered these evils.	19 Visiones enim quæ illos turbaverunt hæc præmonebant, ne inscii quare mala patiebantur perirent.
20 Yet, at that time, the trial of death touched even the just, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness, but your wrath did not continue for long.	20 Tetigit autem tunc et justos tentatio mortis, et commotio in eremo facta est multitudinis : sed non diu permansit ira tua.
21 For a blameless man, prospering, is to be entreated for your people, bringing forth the shield of your service, through prayer and incense, making prayerful supplication, he withstands anger, and so establishes an end to the necessary difficulty, revealing that he is your servant.	21 Prosperans enim homo sine querela deprecari pro populis, proferens servitutis suæ scutum, orationem et per incensum deprecationem allegans, restitit iræ, et finem imposuit necessitati, ostendens quoniam tuus est famulus.
22 Yet he outlasted the disturbance, not by virtue of the body, nor by force of arms, but, with a word, he subdued those who were troubling him, commemorating the oaths and covenant of the parents.	22 Vicit autem turbas non in virtute corporis, nec armaturæ potentia : sed verbo illum qui se vexabat subjecit, juramenta parentum et testamentum commemorans.
23 For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between them and cut off their attack, and he divided those who controlled the path to the living.	23 Cum enim jam acervatim cecidissent super alterutrum mortui, interstitit, et amputavit impetum, et divisit illam quæ ad vivos ducebat viam.
24 For, within the garment of shame which he held, the world was all together, and the great deeds of the parents were engraved on four orders of stones, and your majesty was engraved on the crown of his head.	24 In veste enim poderis quam habebat, totus erat orbis terrarum ; et parentum magnalia in quatuor ordinibus lapidum erant sculpta, et magnificentia tua in diademate capitis illius sculpta erat.
25 Yet he who was exterminating yielded even to those he frightened. For one trial of wrath was sufficient.	25 His autem cessit qui exterminabat, et hæc extimuit : erat enim sola tentatio iræ sufficiens.