Laudemus viros gloriosos, et parentes nostros in generatione sua.

Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.

Speak we now in honour of famous men that were our fathers, long ago.

Multam gloriam fecit Dominus: magnificentia sua a sæculo.

The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.

What high achievements the Lord has made known in them, ever since time began!

Dominantes in potestatibus suis, homines magni virtute et prudentia sua præditi, nuntiantes in prophetis dignitatem prophetarum:

Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets,

Here were men that had power and bore rule, men that excelled in strength, or in the wisdom that dowered them; prophets that worthily upheld the name of prophecy,

et imperantes in præsenti populo, et virtute prudentiæ populis sanctissima verba:

And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.

issuing to the people the commands their times needed, uttering, through their foresight, a sacred charge to the nations.

in peritia sua requirentes modos musicos, et narrantes carmina Scripturarum:

Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.

Here were men that had skill to devise melodies, to make songs and set them down in writing.

homines divites in virtute, pulchritudinis studium habentes, pacificantes in domibus suis.

Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.

Here were men rich in ability, noble of aim, that dwelt peacefully in their homes.

Omnes isti in generationibus gentis suæ gloriam adepti sunt, et in diebus suis habentur in laudibus.

All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.

These were the glories of their race, the ornament of their times;

Qui de illis nati sunt reliquerunt nomen narrandi laudes eorum.

They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:

and the sons they begot have left a memory that adds to the recital of their praise.

Et sunt quorum non est memoria: perierunt quasi qui non fuerint: et nati sunt quasi non nati, et filii ipsorum cum ipsis.

And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children with them.

Not like those others, who are forgotten in death as if they had never been; nameless, they and their children, as if they had never lived;

Sed illi viri misericordiæ sunt, quorum pietates non defuerunt.

But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:

no, these were men of tender conscience; their deeds of charity will never be forgotten.

Cum semine eorum permanent bona:

Good things continue with their seed,

Blessings abide with their posterity;

hæreditas sancta nepotes eorum, et in testamentis stetit semen eorum:

Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.

their descendants are a race set apart for God, the pledged heirs of his promises.

et filii eorum propter illos usque in æternum manent: semen eorum et gloria eorum non derelinquetur.

And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.

For their sakes this line of theirs will endure for all time; their stock, their name, will never be allowed to die out.

Corpora ipsorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomen eorum vivit in generationem et generationem.

Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.

Their bodies lie in peace; their name lasts on, age after age.

Sapientiam ipsorum narrent populi, et laudem eorum nuntiet ecclesia.

Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.

Their wisdom is yet a legend among the people; wherever faithful men assemble, their story is told.

Enoch placuit Deo, et translatus est in paradisum, ut det gentibus pœnitentiam.

Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.

Enoch there was, that did God’s will, and was taken away to Paradise, repentance his gift to mankind.

Noë inventus est perfectus, justus, et in tempore iracundiæ factus est reconciliatio.

Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.

Noe, too, blameless lived and faithful proved; when the day of retribution came, he made amends for all;

Ideo dimissum est reliquum terræ, cum factum est diluvium.

Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.

so it was that earth had a remnant left when the flood came;

Testamenta sæculi posita sunt apud illum, ne deleri possit diluvio omnis caro.

The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood.

with him God’s covenant was made, never again should all living things be drowned together.

Abraham magnus pater multitudinis gentium, et non est inventus similis illi in gloria: qui conservavit legem Excelsi, et fuit in testamento cum illo.

Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him.

What greatness was Abraham’s, to be the father of so many nations! Where shall we find another that can boast he kept the law of the most High as Abraham kept it? He, too, entered into a covenant with God,

In carne ejus stare fecit testamentum, et in tentatione inventus est fidelis.

In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.

and was bidden to bear on his own body the record of it. Once he had put him to the test and found him obedient,

Ideo jurejurando dedit illi gloriam in gente sua, crescere illum quasi terræ cumulum,

Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,

God took an oath that this should be the father of a renowned posterity; their numbers should rival the dust on the ground,

et ut stellas exaltare semen ejus, et hæreditare illos a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terræ.

And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

should match the stars in heaven, stretching from southern to western sea, from Euphrates to the ends of earth.

Et in Isaac eodem modo fecit, propter Abraham patrem ejus.

And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.

Isaac, the son of such a father, fared no worse;

Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi Dominus, et testamentum confirmavit super caput Jacob.

The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.

to him the Lord gave that blessing which should extend to all nations. In Jacob’s person, too, the covenant should be revived;

Agnovit eum in benedictionibus suis, et dedit illi hæreditatem, et divisit illi partem in tribubus duodecim.

He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.

the blessings Jacob uttered should be ratified, and the lands promised him should be divided among twelve tribes of his own begetting.

Et conservavit illi homines misericordiæ, invenientes gratiam in oculis omnis carnis.

And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.

Him a posterity of famous sons awaited, men of tender conscience, that had the good word of all their fellows.