Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam, from the day of their coming out of their mother’s womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.

Occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et jugum grave super filios Adam, a die exitus de ventre matris eorum usque in diem sepulturæ in matrem omnium.

Great is the anxiety all men are doomed to, heavy the yoke each son of Adam must bear, from the day when he leaves his mother’s womb to the day when he is buried in the earth, that is mother of all.

Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of things to come, and the day of their end:

Cogitationes eorum, et timores cordis, adinventio exspectationis, et dies finitionis,

What solicitude is his, what fears catch at his heart; how quick his mind runs out to meet coming events! And the term of it all is death.

From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes:

a residente super sedem gloriosam, usque ad humiliatum in terra et cinere:

What matter, whether a man sit on a throne, or grovel in dust and ashes;

From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,

ab eo qui utitur hyacintho et portat coronam, usque ad eum qui operitur lino crudo: furor, zelus, tumultus, fluctuatio, et timor mortis, iracundia perseverans, et contentio:

whether he goes clad in purple and wears a crown, or has but coarse linen to wear? Anger he shall know, and jealousy, and concern, and bewilderment, and the fear of death, and the grudge that rankles, and rivalry.

And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changeth his knowledge.

et in tempore refectionis in cubili, somnus noctis immutat scientiam ejus.

Rest he on his bed at night, sleep comes to fashion his thinking anew;

A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.

Modicum tamquam nihil in requie, et ab eo in somnis, quasi in die respectus.

even there, the rest he wins is but little or none at all, and thereupon, in his dreams, he is anxious as sentry waiting to be relieved,

He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear:

Conturbatus est in visu cordis sui, tamquam qui evaserit in die belli: in tempore salutis suæ exsurrexit, et admirans ad nullum timorem:

his are such whirling thoughts as fugitive has, just escaped from the battle. Then, at the moment of deliverance, comes waking; and he marvels to find his fears all vain.

Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold more.

cum omni carne, ab homine usque ad pecus, et super peccatores septuplum.

This lot he shares with all living things; beast has it as well as man, but for the sinner it is multiplied sevenfold.

Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:

Ad hæc mors, sanguis, contentio, et rhomphæa, oppressiones, fames, et contritio, et flagella:

There is more besides, mortal sickness, bloodshed, quarrelling, the sword, oppression, famine, devastation and plague;

All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

super iniquos creata sunt hæc omnia: et propter illos factus est cataclysmus.

all such things are designed for the punishing of the wicked; was it not from wickedness the flood came?

All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.

Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur, et omnes aquæ in mare revertentur.

All that is of earth, to earth must needs return, and all waters find their way back to the sea;

All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.

Omne munus et iniquitas delebitur, et fides in sæculum stabit.

what shall become of bribery and oppression? The memory of them shall vanish; faithfulness will endure for ever.

The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.

Substantiæ injustorum sicut fluvius siccabuntur, et sicut tonitruum magnum in pluvia personabunt.

All the riches of the wrong-doer will disappear, like stream that runs dry, will die away, like roll of thunder in a storm-cloud;

While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.

In aperiendo manus suas lætabitur: sic prævaricatores in consummatione tabescent.

open-handed is merry-hearted, the sinners it is that shall pine away at the last.

The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

Nepotes impiorum non multiplicabunt ramos: et radices immundæ super cacumen petræ sonant.

Never a branch will the posterity of the wicked put forth; dead roots they are that rattle on the wind-swept rock.

The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, shall be pulled up before all grass.

Super omnem aquam viriditas, et ad oram fluminis ante omne fœnum evelletur.

How green yonder rushes grow by the river’s bank! But they shall be plucked up before hay-harvest.

Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.

Gratia sicut paradisus in benedictionibus, et misericordia in sæculum permanet.

But kindliness, like the garden trees, lasts on, remembered in blessing; charity remains unforgotten.

The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.

Vita sibi sufficientis operarii condulcabitur, et in ea invenies thesaurum.

Sweet is his lot, that toils and is contented; here is hidden treasure for thy finding.

Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.

Filii et ædificatio civitatis confirmabit nomen: et super hæc mulier immaculata computabitur.

Children born, and a city founded, will bring thee a great name; best of all, a woman without spot.

Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.

Vinum et musica lætificant cor: et super utraque dilectio sapientiæ.

Wine and music make heart glad; best of all, the love of wisdom.

The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

Tibiæ et psalterium suavem faciunt melodiam: et super utraque lingua suavis.

Flute and harp make sweet melody; best of all a kindly tongue.

Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.

Gratiam et speciem desiderabit oculus tuus: et super hæc virides sationes.

Grace and beauty charm the eye; best of all, the green wheat.

A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

Amicus et sodalis in tempore convenientes, et super utrosque mulier cum viro.

Friend and friend, gossip and gossip, are well met; best of all, man and wife.

Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.

Fratres in adjutorium in tempore tribulationis: et super eos misericordia liberabit.

Kinsmen … will help thee in hard times; best of all thy alms-deeds to deliver thee.

Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.

Aurum et argentum est constitutio pedum: et super utrumque consilium beneplacitum.

Gold and silver give thee sure vantage-ground; best of all, right counsel.

Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the fear of the Lord.

Facultates et virtutes exaltant cor, et super hæc timor Domini.

Riches and strength make the heart beat high; best of all, the fear of the Lord.

There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek for help.

Non est in timore Domini minoratio: et non est in eo inquirere adjutorium.

Fear the Lord, lack thou shalt have none, help need none;

The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.

Timor Domini sicut paradisus benedictionis, et super omnem gloriam operuerunt illum.

the fear of the Lord is a garden that yields blessing … and in splendour above all splendour they have clothed him.

My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want.

Fili, in tempore vitæ tuæ ne indigeas: melius est enim mori quam indigere.

Long as thou livest, my son, never turn beggar; die is better than beg.

The life of him that looketh toward another man’s table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man’s meat.

Vir respiciens in mensam alienam, non est vita ejus in cogitatione victus: alit enim animam suam cibis alienis:

Look thou for thy meat to another’s table, I count thy life no life at all; what, owe thy very being to another man’s larder?

But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.

vir autem disciplinatus et eruditus custodiet se.

From such a chance, good teaching and good training shall keep thee safe.

Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

In ore imprudentis condulcabitur inopia, et in ventre ejus ignis ardebit.

Poverty, on a fool’s lips, will pass for a thing desirable; but trust me, he has a fire raging within.