The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and men of mercy are taken away, because there is none that understandeth; for the just man is taken away from before the face of evil.

Justus perit, et non est qui recogitet in corde suo; et viri misericordiæ colliguntur, quia non est qui intelligat: a facie enim malitiæ collectus est justus.

Alas, that none takes warning! See how good men die, how the friends of God are borne away from us; and none has the wit to see trouble is coming, and the good must be spared the sight of it!

Let peace come, let him rest in his bed that hath walked in his uprightness.

Veniat pax; requiescat in cubili suo qui ambulavit in directione sua.

Peace be his lot, easy let him rest, that followed ever the straight path.

But draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer, and of the harlot.

Vos autem accedite huc, filii auguratricis, semen adulteri et fornicariæ.

But you, come and answer for yourselves, brood of the sorceress, children of the adulterer and the harlot!

Upon whom have you jested? upon whom have you opened your mouth wide, and put out your tongue? are not you wicked children, a false seed,

Super quem lusistis? super quem dilatastis os, et ejecistis linguam? Numquid non vos filii scelesti, semen mendax,

Over whom would you make merry, with open mouth and hanging tongue? What are you but the sons of shame, a bastard race?

Who seek your comfort in idols under every green tree, sacrificing children in the torrents, under the high rocks?

qui consolamini in diis subter omne lignum frondosum, immolantes parvulos in torrentibus, subter eminentes petras?

You, that dally with idols under the first spreading tree, that sacrifice little children in the rock-caves among the glens?

In the parts of the torrent is thy portion, this is thy lot: and thou hast poured out libations to them, thou hast offered sacrifice. Shall I not be angry at these things?

In partibus torrentis pars tua; hæc est sors tua: et ipsis effudisti libamen, obtulisti sacrificium. Numquid super his non indignabor?

Where the valleys part, there is thy part and lot; to those thou wilt pour out libations, wilt offer sacrifice; and must I look on unmoved?

Upon a high and lofty mountain thou hast laid thy bed, and hast gone up thither to offer victims.

Super montem excelsum et sublimem posuisti cubile tuum, et illuc ascendisti ut immolares hostias.

Thou hast set down thy bed on the peak of a high mountain; there thou hast gone up to offer victims.

And behind the door, and behind the post thou hast set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself near me, and hast received an adulterer: thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made a covenant with them: thou hast loved their bed with open hand.

Et post ostium, et retro postem, posuisti memoriale tuum. Quia juxta me discooperuisti, et suscepisti adulterum, dilatasti cubile tuum, et pepigisti cum eis fœdus; dilexisti stratum eorum manu aperta.

Keepsake of mine must be put behind the door, where the posts should hide it, now thou wouldst strip thee naked and let in a gallant in my place, make free with my marriage-bed! With such as these thou didst exchange vows, greedily thou didst buy their good will.

And thou hast adorned thyself for the king with ointment, and hast multiplied thy perfumes. Thou hast sent thy messengers far off, and wast debased even to hell.

Et ornasti te regi unguento, et multiplicasti pigmenta tua. Misisti legatos tuos procul, et humiliata es usque ad inferos.

A king’s favour to win, with ointments thou wouldst cover thee, wouldst spare no kind of perfume; on a far errand thy envoys went out, and ever thy pride was humbled, low as hell itself.

Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy ways: yet thou saidst not: I will rest: thou hast found life of thy hand, therefore thou hast not asked.

In multitudine viæ tuæ laborasti; non dixisti: Quiescam. Vitam manus tuæ invenisti; propterea non rogasti.

So wearied with long journeying, and never didst thou cry, Enough; still obstinate, confess thy need thou wouldst not.

For whom hast thou been solicitous and afraid, that thou hast lied, and hast not been mindful of me, nor thought on me in thy heart? for I am silent, and as one that seeth not, and thou hast forgotten me.

Pro quo sollicita timuisti, quia mentita es, et mei non es recordata, neque cogitasti in corde tuo? Quia ego tacens et quasi non videns, et mei oblita es.

Alas, what anxious fears were these, that to my service made thee false, of me no memory left thee, no thought? And all because I nothing said, made as if I nothing saw, till at last thou hadst forgotten me!

I will declare thy justice, and thy works shall not profit thee.

Ego annuntiabo justitiam tuam, et opera tua non proderunt tibi.

Yet, wouldst thou have right, it is I that must declare it; thy own striving is all in vain.

When thou shalt cry, let thy companies deliver thee, but the wind shall carry them all off, a breeze shall take them away, but he that putteth his trust in me, shall inherit the land, and shall possess my holy mount.

Cum clamaveris, liberent te congregati tui, et omnes eos auferet ventus, tollet aura. Qui autem fiduciam habet mei, hæreditabit terram, et possidebit montem sanctum meum.

Let them deliver thee, if they can, at thy summons, these new allies thou hast made! See how they are carried away on the wind, how a breath will scatter them! His the prize, that in me has confidence; on my holy mountain he shall find a resting-place.

And I will say: Make a way: give free passage, turn out of the path, take away the stumblingblocks out of the way of my people.

Et dicam: Viam facite, præbete iter; declinate de semita, auferte offendicula de via populi mei.

Hark, how the cry goes up, A road, there, a road; let them have free passage! These are my people; clear of every hindrance be their path!

For thus saith the High and the Eminent that inhabiteth eternity: and his name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy place, and with a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Quia hæc dicit Excelsus, et Sublimis, habitans æternitatem, et sanctum nomen ejus: in excelso et in sancto habitans, et cum contrito et humili spiritu: ut vivificet spiritum humilium, et vivificet cor contritorum.

A message from the high God, the great God, whose habitation is eternity, whose name is hallowed! He, dwelling in that high and holy place, dwells also among chastened and humbled souls, bidding the humble spirit, the chastened soul, rise and live!

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be angry unto the end: because the spirit shall go forth from my face, and breathings I will make.

Non enim in sempiternum litigabo, neque usque ad finem irascar, quia spiritus a facie mea egredietur, et flatus ego faciam.

I will not be always claiming my due, I will not cherish my anger eternally; what soul but takes its origin from me? Am I not the maker of all that breathes?

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and I struck him: I hid my face from thee, and was angry: and he went away wandering in his own heart.

Propter iniquitatem avaritiæ ejus iratus sum, et percussi eum. Abscondi a te faciem meam, et indignatus sum; et abiit vagus in via cordis sui.

Greedy wrong-doer that defies me I must needs smite down; hide my face from him in anger, let him follow the path his own erring will has chosen.

I saw his ways, and I healed him, and brought him back, and restored comforts to him, and to them that mourn for him.

Vias ejus vidi, et sanavi eum; et reduxi eum, et reddidi consolationes ipsi, et lugentibus ejus.

Now to pity his plight, now to bring him remedy! Home-coming at last, consolation at last, for him and all that bemoan him!

I created the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, said the Lord, and I healed him.

Creavi fructum labiorum pacem; pacem ei qui longe est et qui prope, dixit Dominus, et sanavi eum.

The harvest of men’s thanks, it is I that bring it to the birth. Peace, the Lord says, peace to those who are far away, and to those who are near at hand; I have brought him remedy.

But the wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest, and the waves thereof cast up dirt and mire.

Impii autem quasi mare fervens, quod quiescere non potest, et redundant fluctus ejus in conculcationem et lutum.

But rebellious hearts are like the tempestuous sea that can never find repose; its waters must ever be churning up mire and scum.

There is no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord God.

Non est pax impiis, dicit Dominus Deus.

For the rebellious, the Lord says, there is no peace.