Live true to the law, and thou hast richly endowed the altar.

He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings.

Qui conservat legem multiplicat oblationem.

Let this be thy welcome-offering, to heed God’s word and keep clear of all wickedness;

It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity.

Sacrificium salutare est attendere mandatis, et discedere ab omni iniquitate.

this thy sacrifice of amends for wrong done, of atonement for fault, to shun wrong-doing.

And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins.

Et propitiationem litare sacrificii super injustitias: et deprecatio pro peccatis, recedere ab injustitia.

Bloodless offering wouldst thou make, give thanks; victim wouldst thou immolate, shew mercy.

He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that doth mercy, offereth sacrifice.

Retribuet gratiam qui offert similaginem: et qui facit misericordiam offert sacrificium.

Wickedness and wrong-doing to shun is to win God’s favour, and pardon for thy faults.

To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins.

Beneplacitum est Domino recedere ab iniquitate: et deprecatio pro peccatis recedere ab injustitia.

Yet do not appear in the Lord’s presence empty-handed;

Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord.

Non apparebis ante conspectum Domini vacuus:

due observance must be paid, because God has commanded it.

For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God.

hæc enim omnia propter mandatum Dei fiunt.

If thy heart is right, thy offering shall enrich the altar; its fragrance shall reach the presence of the most High;

The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of sweetness in the sight of the most High.

Oblatio justi impinguat altare, et odor suavitatis est in conspectu Altissimi.

a just man’s sacrifice the Lord accepts, and will not pass over his claim to be remembered.

The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not forget the memorial thereof.

Sacrificium justi acceptum est, et memoriam ejus non obliviscetur Dominus.

Generously pay the Lord his due; do not grudge him the first-fruits of thy earnings;

Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the firstfruits of thy hands.

Bono animo gloriam redde Deo, et non minuas primitias manuum tuarum.

all thou givest, give with a smiling face, gladly bring in the tithe.

In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy tithes with joy.

In omni dato hilarem fac vultum tuum, et in exsultatione sanctifica decimas tuas.

In his own measure God’s gift repay; grudge thou must not what afford thou canst;

Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands:

Da Altissimo secundum datum ejus, et in bono oculo adinventionem facito manuum tuarum,

the Lord is a good master, and thou shalt have sevenfold in return.

For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times as much.

quoniam Dominus retribuens est, et septies tantum reddet tibi.

But think not to bribe his justice; he will have none of thy bribery.

Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive.

Noli offerre munera prava, non enim suscipiet illa.

Never pin thy hopes on the power of wealth ill gotten; the Lord is a true judge, not swayed by partiality,

And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, and there is not with him respect of person.

Et noli inspicere sacrificum injustum, quoniam Dominus judex est, et non est apud illum gloria personæ.

and thou canst not win him to take thy part against the friendless, turn him deaf to the plea of the wronged.

The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he will hear the prayer of him that is wronged.

Non accipiet Dominus personam in pauperem, et deprecationem læsi exaudiet.

Prayer of the orphan, eloquent sigh of the widow, he will not disregard;

He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.

Non despiciet preces pupilli, nec viduam, si effundat loquelam gemitus.

see the tears on yonder widow’s cheeks, that accuse the author of her misery!

Do not the widow’s tears run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causeth them to fall?

Nonne lacrimæ viduæ ad maxillam descendunt, et exclamatio ejus super deducentem eas?

From her cheeks they rise to heaven, where all prayers are heard, a grievous sight.

For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that heareth will not be delighted with them.

A maxilla enim ascendunt usque ad cælum, et Dominus exauditor non delectabitur in illis.

None but his true worshippers he makes welcome; for their supplication the clouds give passage.

He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.

Qui adorat Deum in oblectatione suscipietur, et deprecatio illius usque ad nubes propinquabit.

Pierce those clouds if thou wouldst, thou must humble thyself, inconsolable till that prayer finds audience, unwearying till it wins redress.

The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not depart till the most High behold.

Oratio humiliantis se nubes penetrabit, et donec propinquet non consolabitur, et non discedet donec Altissimus aspiciat.

And will the Lord keep us waiting long? Hearing and redress he will grant to the innocent; strong as of old, patient no longer, he will crush the backs of our oppressors.

And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them, that he may crush their back:

Et Dominus non elongabit: et judicabit justos, et faciet judicium: et Fortissimus non habebit in illis patientiam, ut contribulet dorsum ipsorum:

The Gentiles punished, scattered the hordes of insolence, broken the sceptre of wrong!

And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust,

et gentibus reddet vindictam, donec tollat plenitudinem superborum, et sceptra iniquorum contribulet:

Men called to account everywhere for their deeds, the harvest of their mortal pride,

Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption,

donec reddat hominibus secundum actus suos, et secundum opera Adæ, et secundum præsumptionem illius:

and his own people vindicated at last, triumphing in his mercy at last!

Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall delight the just with his mercy.

donec judicet judicium plebis suæ, et oblectabit justos misericordia sua.

God’s mercy, welcome to the afflicted as rain-clouds are welcome in time of drought!

The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a cloud of rain in the time of drought.

Speciosa misericordia Dei in tempore tribulationis, quasi nubes pluviæ in tempore siccitatis.