He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.

Qui vivet in æternum creavit omnia simul. Deus solus justificabitur, et manet invictus rex in æternum.

Naught that is, but God made it; he, the source of all right, the king that reigns for ever unconquerable.

Who is able to declare his works?

Quis sufficit enarrare opera illius?

And wouldst thou tell the number of his creatures,

For who shall search out his glorious acts?

quis enim investigabit magnalia ejus?

trace his marvellous doings to their origin,

And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be able to declare his mercy?

virtutem autem magnitudinis ejus quis enuntiabit? aut quis adjiciet enarrare misericordiam ejus?

set forth in words the greatness of his power, or go further yet, and proclaim his mercies?

Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to find out the glorious works of God.

Non est minuere neque adjicere, nec est invenire magnalia Dei.

God’s wonders thou shalt learn to understand, when thou hast learned to increase the number of them, or diminish it.

When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.

Cum consummaverit homo, tunc incipiet: et cum quieverit, aporiabitur.

Reach thou the end of thy reckoning, thou must needs begin again; cease thou from weariness, thou hast nothing learnt.

What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what is his evil?

Quid est homo? et quæ est gratia illius? et quid bonum aut quid nequam illius?

Tell me, what is man, what worth is his, what power has he for good or ill?

The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years: as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.

Numerus dierum hominum, ut multum centum anni, quasi gutta aquæ maris deputati sunt: et sicut calculus arenæ, sic exigui anni in die ævi.

What is his span of life? Like a drop in the ocean, like a pebble on the beach, seem those few years of his, a hundred at the most, matched with eternity.

Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.

Propter hoc patiens est Deus in illis, et effundit super eos misericordiam suam.

What wonder if God is patient with his human creatures, lavishes mercy on them?

He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.

Vidit præsumptionem cordis eorum, quoniam mala est: et cognovit subversionem illorum, quoniam nequam est.

If none reads, as he, their proud heart, none knows, as he, the cruelty of their doom;

Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shewn them the way of justice.

Ideo adimplevit propitiationem suam in illis, et ostendit eis viam æquitatis.

and so he has given his clemency full play, and shewed them an even path to tread.

The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.

Miseratio hominis circa proximum suum: misericordia autem Dei super omnem carnem.

Man’s mercy extends only to his neighbour; God has pity on all living things.

He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his flock.

Qui misericordiam habet, docet et erudit quasi pastor gregem suum.

He is like a shepherd who cares for his sheep, guides and controls all alike;

He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.

Miseretur excipientis doctrinam miserationis, et qui festinat in judiciis ejus.

welcome thou this merciful discipline of his, run thou eagerly to meet his will, and he will shew pity on thee.

My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.

Fili, in bonis non des querelam, et in omni dato non des tristitiam verbi mali.

My son, bestow thy favours ungrudgingly, nor ever mar with harsh words the gladness of thy giving.

Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is better than the gift.

Nonne ardorem refrigerabit ros? sic et verbum melius quam datum.

Not more welcome the dew, tempering the sun’s heat, than the giver’s word, that counts for more than the gift.

Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a justified man.

Nonne ecce verbum super datum bonum? sed utraque cum homine justificato.

Better the gracious word than the gracious gift; but, wouldst thou acquit thyself perfectly, let both be thine.

A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught consumeth the eyes.

Stultus acriter improperabit: et datus indisciplinati tabescere facit oculos.

The fool, by his scolding, mars all; never yet did eye brighten over a churl’s giving.

Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou speak.

Ante judicium para justitiam tibi, et antequam loquaris, disce.

First arm thyself with a just cause, then stand thy trial; first learn, then speak.

Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.

Ante languorem adhibe medicinam: et ante judicium interroga teipsum, et in conspectu Dei invenies propitiationem.

Study thy health before ever thou fallest sick, and thy own heart examine before judgement overtakes thee; so in God’s sight thou shalt find pardon.

Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness shew thy conversation.

Ante languorem humilia te, et in tempore infirmitatis ostende conversationem tuam.

While health serves thee, do penance for thy sins, and then, when sickness comes, shew thyself the man thou art.

Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.

Non impediaris orare semper, et ne verearis usque ad mortem justificari, quoniam merces Dei manet in æternum.

From paying thy vows let naught ever hinder thee; shall death find thee still shrinking from acquitting thyself of the task? God’s award stands for ever.

Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.

Ante orationem præpara animam tuam, et noli esse quasi homo qui tentat Deum.

And before ever thou makest thy petition, count well the cost. Let it not be said of thee that thou didst invite God’s anger.

Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.

Memento iræ in die consummationis, et tempus retributionis in conversatione faciei.

When his vengeance is satisfied, bethink thee still of his vengeance; of his retribution, when his glance is turned away.

Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.

Memento paupertatis in tempore abundantiæ, et necessitatum paupertatis in die divitiarum.

When all abounds, bethink thee of evil times; of pinching poverty, when thou hast wealth in store.

From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.

A mane usque ad vesperam immutabitur tempus, et hæc omnia citata in oculis Dei.

Between rise and set of sun the face of things alters; swiftly God changes all;

A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins will beware of sloth.

Homo sapiens in omnibus metuet, et in diebus delictorum attendet ab inertia.

and he is wisest who walks timorously, shunning carelessness in a world where sins abound.

Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.

Omnis astutus agnoscit sapientiam, et invenienti eam dabit confessionem.

They are well advised that master wisdom’s secret; much cause for thankfulness she bestows on him who finds her.

They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth proverbs and judgments.

Sensati in verbis et ipsi sapienter egerunt, et intellexerunt veritatem et justitiam, et impluerunt proverbia et judicia.

Wise man that has the gift of utterance does more than wisely live; no stranger to truth and right, he is a fountain of true sayings and of right awards.

Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.

Post concupiscentias tuas non eas, et a voluntate tua avertere.

Do not follow the counsel of appetite; turn thy back on thy own liking.

If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies.

Si præstes animæ tuæ concupiscentias ejus, faciat te in gaudium inimicis tuis.

Pamper those passions of thine, and joy it will bring, but to thy enemies.

Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: for their concertation is continual.

Ne oblecteris in turbis nec in modicis: assidua enim est commissio illorum.

Love not the carouse, though it be with poor men; they will be vying still one with another in wastefulness.

Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own life.

Ne fueris mediocris in contentione ex fœnore, et est tibi nihil in sacculo: eris enim invidus vitæ tuæ.

And wouldst thou grow poor with borrowing to pay thy shot, thou with thy empty coffers? That were to grudge thy own life.