Deus creavit de terra hominem, et secundum imaginem suam fecit illum:

God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.

Man, too, God created out of the earth, fashioning him after his own likeness,

et iterum convertit illum in ipsam, et secundum se vestivit illum virtute.

And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself.

and gave him, too, earth to be his burying-place, for all the divine power that clothed him;

Numerum dierum et tempus dedit illi, et dedit illi potestatem eorum quæ sunt super terram.

He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth.

man, too, should have his allotted toll of years, his season of maturity, and should have power over all else on earth;

Posuit timorem illius super omnem carnem, et dominatus est bestiarum et volatilium.

He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls.

no living thing, beast or bird, that should not live in awe of him and be subject to his rule.

Creavit ex ipso adjutorium simile sibi: consilium, et linguam, et oculos, et aures, et cor dedit illis excogitandi, et disciplina intellectus replevit illos.

He created of him a helpmate like to himself: he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding.

To him and to that partner of his, created like himself and out of himself, God gave will and speech and sight and hearing; gave them a heart to reason with, and filled them with power of discernment;

Creavit illis scientiam spiritus, sensu implevit cor illorum, et mala et bona ostendit illis.

He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.

spirit itself should be within their ken, their hearts should be all sagacity. What evil was, what good, he made plain to them;

Posuit oculum suum super corda illorum, ostendere illis magnalia operum suorum:

He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works:

gave them his own eyes to see with, so that they should keep his marvellous acts in view,

ut nomen sanctificationis collaudent, et gloriari in mirabilibus illius; ut magnalia enarrent operum ejus.

That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things of his works.

praise that holy name of his, boast of his wonders, tell the story of his renowned deeds.

Addidit illis disciplinam, et legem vitæ hæreditavit illos.

Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance.

Warnings, too, he gave them; the law that brings life should be a cherished heirloom;

Testamentum æternum constituit cum illis, et justitiam et judicia sua ostendit illis.

He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments.

and so he made a covenant with them which should last for ever; claim and award of his he would make known to them.

Et magnalia honoris ejus vidit oculus illorum, et honorem vocis audierunt aures illorum. Et dixit illis: Attendite ab omni iniquo.

And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.

Their eyes should see him in visible majesty, their ears catch the echo of his majestic voice. Keep your hands clear, he told them, of all wrong-doing,

Et mandavit illis unicuique de proximo suo.

And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour.

and gave each man a duty towards his neighbour.

Viæ illorum coram ipso sunt semper: non sunt absconsæ ab oculis ipsius.

Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes.

Ever before his eyes their doings are; nothing is hidden from his scrutiny.

In unamquamque gentem præposuit rectorem:

Over every nation he set a ruler.

To every Gentile people he has given a ruler of its own;

et pars Dei Israël facta est manifesta.

And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.

Israel alone is exempt, marked down as God’s patrimony.

Et omnia opera illorum velut sol in conspectu Dei: et oculi ejus sine intermissione inspicientes in viis eorum.

And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

Clear as the sun their acts shew under his eye; over their lives, untiring his scrutiny.

Non sunt absconsa testamenta per iniquitatem illorum, et omnes iniquitates eorum in conspectu Dei.

Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.

Sin they as they will, his covenant is still on record; no misdeed of theirs but he is the witness of it.

Eleemosyna viri quasi signaculum cum ipso, et gratiam hominis quasi pupillam conservabit.

The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:

Alms if thou givest, thou hast the sign-manual of his favour; treasured as the apple of his eye is the record of man’s deserving.

Et postea resurget, et retribuet illis retributionem, unicuique in caput ipsorum, et convertet in interiores partes terræ.

And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into the bowels of the earth.

… A day will come when he rouses himself and requites them, one by one, for their misdoing, overwhelms them in the depths of earth.

Pœnitentibus autem dedit viam justitiæ, et confirmavit deficientes sustinere, et destinavit illis sortem veritatis.

But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth.

Yet, to such as repent, he grants the means of acquittal, and makes their fainting hearts strong to endure; for them, too, he has a share in his promised reward.

Convertere ad Dominum, et relinque peccata tua:

Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:

Turn back to the Lord, and let thy sins be;

precare ante faciem Domini, et minue offendicula.

Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less.

make thy prayer before him, and rid thyself of the peril in thy path.

Revertere ad Dominum, et avertere ab injustitia tua, et nimis odito execrationem:

Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly hate abomination.

Come back to the Lord, from wrong-doing turn away, and thy foul deeds hate;

et cognosce justitias et judicia Dei, et sta in sorte propositionis, et orationis altissimi Dei.

And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.

in all his decrees and awards own God just, stand in thy appointed place to make intercession to him, the most High,

In partes vade sæculi sancti, cum vivis et dantibus confessionem Deo.

Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give praise to God.

and take thy part with a race of men sanctified, living men that still give thanks to God.

Non demoreris in errore impiorum: ante mortem confitere: a mortuo, quasi nihil, perit confessio.

Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.

Linger not in the false path of wickedness; give thanks while breath is in thee; the dead breathe no more, give thanks no more.

Confiteberis vivens, vivus et sanus confiteberis: et laudabis Deum, et gloriaberis in miserationibus illius.

Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in his mercies.

Thanks while yet thou livest, thanks while health and strength are still with thee, to praise God and to take pride in all his mercies!

Quam magna misericordia Domini, et propitiatio illius convertentibus ad se!

How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him !

The Lord’s mercy, that is so abundant, the pardon that is ever theirs who come back to him!

Nec enim omnia possunt esse in hominibus, quoniam non est immortalis filius hominis, et in vanitate malitiæ placuerunt.

For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil.

Think not man is the centre of all things; no son of Adam is immortal, for all the delight men take in their sinful follies.

Quid lucidius sole? et hic deficiet; aut quid nequius quam quod excogitavit caro et sanguis? et hoc arguetur.

What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this shall be reproved.

Nought brighter than the sun, and yet its brightness shall fail; nought darker than the secret designs of flesh and blood, yet all shall be brought to light.

Virtutem altitudinis cæli ipse conspicit: et omnes homines terra et cinis.

He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.

God, that marshals the armies of high heaven, and man, all dust and ashes!