Ecclesiasticus — Ecclesiasticus Jesu, filii Sirach
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Chapter 18
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Douay-Rheims><Vulgate><Knox Bible
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He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.
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Qui vivet in æternum creavit omnia simul. Deus solus justificabitur, et manet invictus rex in æternum.
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Naught that is, but God made it; he, the source of all right, the king that reigns for ever unconquerable.
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Who is able to declare his works?
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Quis sufficit enarrare opera illius?
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And wouldst thou tell the number of his creatures,
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For who shall search out his glorious acts?
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quis enim investigabit magnalia ejus?
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trace his marvellous doings to their origin,
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And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be able to declare his mercy?
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virtutem autem magnitudinis ejus quis enuntiabit? aut quis adjiciet enarrare misericordiam ejus?
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set forth in words the greatness of his power, or go further yet, and proclaim his mercies?
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Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to find out the glorious works of God.
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Non est minuere neque adjicere, nec est invenire magnalia Dei.
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God’s wonders thou shalt learn to understand, when thou hast learned to increase the number of them, or diminish it.
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When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.
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Cum consummaverit homo, tunc incipiet: et cum quieverit, aporiabitur.
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Reach thou the end of thy reckoning, thou must needs begin again; cease thou from weariness, thou hast nothing learnt.
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What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what is his evil?
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Quid est homo? et quæ est gratia illius? et quid bonum aut quid nequam illius?
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Tell me, what is man, what worth is his, what power has he for good or ill?
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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.
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Numerus dierum hominum, ut multum centum anni, quasi gutta aquæ maris deputati sunt: et sicut calculus arenæ, sic exigui anni in die ævi.
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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.
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Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
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Propter hoc patiens est Deus in illis, et effundit super eos misericordiam suam.
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What wonder if God is patient with his human creatures, lavishes mercy on them?
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He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.
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Vidit præsumptionem cordis eorum, quoniam mala est: et cognovit subversionem illorum, quoniam nequam est.
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If none reads, as he, their proud heart, none knows, as he, the cruelty of their doom;
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Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shewn them the way of justice.
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Ideo adimplevit propitiationem suam in illis, et ostendit eis viam æquitatis.
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and so he has given his clemency full play, and shewed them an even path to tread.
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The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.
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Miseratio hominis circa proximum suum: misericordia autem Dei super omnem carnem.
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Man’s mercy extends only to his neighbour; God has pity on all living things.
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He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his flock.
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Qui misericordiam habet, docet et erudit quasi pastor gregem suum.
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He is like a shepherd who cares for his sheep, guides and controls all alike;
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He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.
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Miseretur excipientis doctrinam miserationis, et qui festinat in judiciis ejus.
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welcome thou this merciful discipline of his, run thou eagerly to meet his will, and he will shew pity on thee.
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My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.
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Fili, in bonis non des querelam, et in omni dato non des tristitiam verbi mali.
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My son, bestow thy favours ungrudgingly, nor ever mar with harsh words the gladness of thy giving.
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Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is better than the gift.
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Nonne ardorem refrigerabit ros? sic et verbum melius quam datum.
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Not more welcome the dew, tempering the sun’s heat, than the giver’s word, that counts for more than the gift.
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Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a justified man.
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Nonne ecce verbum super datum bonum? sed utraque cum homine justificato.
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Better the gracious word than the gracious gift; but, wouldst thou acquit thyself perfectly, let both be thine.
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A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught consumeth the eyes.
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Stultus acriter improperabit: et datus indisciplinati tabescere facit oculos.
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The fool, by his scolding, mars all; never yet did eye brighten over a churl’s giving.
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Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou speak.
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Ante judicium para justitiam tibi, et antequam loquaris, disce.
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First arm thyself with a just cause, then stand thy trial; first learn, then speak.
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Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.
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Ante languorem adhibe medicinam: et ante judicium interroga teipsum, et in conspectu Dei invenies propitiationem.
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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.
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Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness shew thy conversation.
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Ante languorem humilia te, et in tempore infirmitatis ostende conversationem tuam.
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While health serves thee, do penance for thy sins, and then, when sickness comes, shew thyself the man thou art.
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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.
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Non impediaris orare semper, et ne verearis usque ad mortem justificari, quoniam merces Dei manet in æternum.
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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.
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Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.
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Ante orationem præpara animam tuam, et noli esse quasi homo qui tentat Deum.
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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.
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Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.
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Memento iræ in die consummationis, et tempus retributionis in conversatione faciei.
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When his vengeance is satisfied, bethink thee still of his vengeance; of his retribution, when his glance is turned away.
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Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.
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Memento paupertatis in tempore abundantiæ, et necessitatum paupertatis in die divitiarum.
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When all abounds, bethink thee of evil times; of pinching poverty, when thou hast wealth in store.
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From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.
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A mane usque ad vesperam immutabitur tempus, et hæc omnia citata in oculis Dei.
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Between rise and set of sun the face of things alters; swiftly God changes all;
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A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins will beware of sloth.
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Homo sapiens in omnibus metuet, et in diebus delictorum attendet ab inertia.
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and he is wisest who walks timorously, shunning carelessness in a world where sins abound.
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Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.
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Omnis astutus agnoscit sapientiam, et invenienti eam dabit confessionem.
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They are well advised that master wisdom’s secret; much cause for thankfulness she bestows on him who finds her.
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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.
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Sensati in verbis et ipsi sapienter egerunt, et intellexerunt veritatem et justitiam, et impluerunt proverbia et judicia.
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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.
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Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.
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Post concupiscentias tuas non eas, et a voluntate tua avertere.
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Do not follow the counsel of appetite; turn thy back on thy own liking.
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If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies.
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Si præstes animæ tuæ concupiscentias ejus, faciat te in gaudium inimicis tuis.
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Pamper those passions of thine, and joy it will bring, but to thy enemies.
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Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: for their concertation is continual.
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Ne oblecteris in turbis nec in modicis: assidua enim est commissio illorum.
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Love not the carouse, though it be with poor men; they will be vying still one with another in wastefulness.
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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.
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Ne fueris mediocris in contentione ex fœnore, et est tibi nihil in sacculo: eris enim invidus vitæ tuæ.
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And wouldst thou grow poor with borrowing to pay thy shot, thou with thy empty coffers? That were to grudge thy own life.