Wisdom 2

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	VULGATA
1 For they have said, reasoning with themselves incorrectly: “Our lifetime is brief and tedious, and there is no relief within the limits of man, and no one is acknowledged to have returned from the dead.	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.
2 For we are born from nothing, and after this we will be as if we had not been, because the breath in our nostrils is like smoke, and conversation sends out sparks from the stirring of our heart;	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 :
3 therefore, when it is extinguished, our body will be ashes, and our spirit will be diffused like a soft breeze, and our life will pass away like the wisp of a cloud, just as a mist is dissolved when it is driven away by the rays of the sun and overpowered by its heat.	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.
4 And in time our name will surrender to oblivion, and no one will have remembrance of our works.	4 Et nomen nostrum oblivionem accipiet per tempus, et nemo memoriam habebit operum nostrorum.
5 For our time is like the passing of a shadow, and nothing can reverse our end, for it is signed and sealed, and cannot be returned.	5 Umbræ enim transitus est tempus nostrum, et non est reversio finis nostri : quoniam consignata est, et nemo revertitur.
6 Therefore, hurry, let us enjoy the good things of the present time, and let us quickly use up passing things, just as in youth.	6 Venite ergo, et fruamur bonis quæ sunt, et utamur creatura tamquam in juventute celeriter.
7 Let us indulge ourselves with costly wine and ointments, and let no flower of youth pass us by.	7 Vino pretioso et unguentis nos impleamus, et non prætereat nos flos temporis.
8 Let us surround ourselves with rosebuds before they wither; let no meadow be left untouched by our indulgence.	8 Coronemus nos rosis antequam marcescant ; nullum pratum sit quod non pertranseat luxuria nostra :
9 Let no one among us be exempt from our indulgence. Let us leave behind tokens of enjoyment everywhere, for this is our portion, and this is fate.	9 nemo nostrum exsors sit luxuriæ nostræ. Ubique relinquamus signa lætitiæ, quoniam hæc est pars nostra, et hæc est sors.
10 Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor respect the aged grey hairs of elders.	10 Opprimamus pauperem justum, et non parcamus viduæ, nec veterani revereamur canos multi temporis :
11 But let our strength be the law of justice, for what is weak is found to be useless.	11 sit autem fortitudo nostra lex justitiæ ; quod enim infirmum est, inutile invenitur.
12 Therefore, let us encircle the just, because he is useless to us, and he is against our works, and he reproaches us with our legal offenses, and makes known to us the sins of our way of life.	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.
13 He promises that he has the knowledge of God and he calls himself the son of God.	13 Promittit se scientiam Dei habere, et filium Dei se nominat.
14 He was made among us to expose our very thoughts.	14 Factus est nobis in traductionem cogitationum nostrarum.
15 He is grievous for us even to behold, for his life is unlike other men’s lives, and immutable are his ways.	15 Gravis est nobis etiam ad videndum, quoniam dissimilis est aliis vita illius, et immutatæ sunt viæ ejus.
16 It is as if we are considered by him to be insignificant, and he abstains from our ways as from filth; he prefers the newly justified, and he glories that he has God for his father.	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.
17 Let us see, then, if his words are true, and let us test what will happen to him, and then we will know what his end will be.	17 Videamus ergo si sermones illius veri sint, et tentemus quæ ventura sunt illi, et sciemus quæ erunt novissima illius.
18 For if he is the true son of God, he will receive him and deliver him from the hands of his adversaries.	18 Si enim est verus filius Dei, suscipiet illum, et liberabit eum de manibus contrariorum.
19 Let us examine him with insult and torture, that we may know his reverence and try his patience.	19 Contumelia et tormento interrogemus eum, ut sciamus reverentiam ejus, et probemus patientiam illius.
20 Let us condemn him to a most shameful death, for, according to his own words, God will care for him.”	20 Morte turpissima condemnemus eum ; erit enim ei respectus ex sermonibus illius.
21 These things they thought, and they were mistaken, for their own malice blinded them.	21 Hæc cogitaverunt, et erraverunt : excæcavit enim illos malitia eorum.
22 And they were ignorant of the mysteries of God; they neither hoped for the reward of justice, nor judged the value of holy souls.	22 Et nescierunt sacramenta Dei : neque mercedem speraverunt justitiæ, nec judicaverunt honorem animarum sanctarum.
23 For God created man to be immortal, and he made him in the image of his own likeness.	23 Quoniam Deus creavit hominem inexterminabilem, et ad imaginem similitudinis suæ fecit illum.
24 But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world,	24 Invidia autem diaboli mors introivit in orbem terrarum :
25 yet they imitate him, who are from his side.	25 imitantur autem illum qui sunt ex parte illius.