1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.

1 Sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret sapiens,
et in prophetis vacabit.

2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.

2 Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit,
et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.

3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.

3 Occulta proverbiorum exquiret,
et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.

4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.

4 In medio magnatorum ministrabit,
et in conspectu præsidis apparebit.

5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.

5 In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet:
bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.

6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.

6 Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum,
et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.

7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

7 Aperiet os suum in oratione,
et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.

8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

8 Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit,
spiritu intelligentiæ replebit illum:

9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.

9 et ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiæ suæ,
et in oratione confitebitur Domino:

10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.

10 et ipse diriget consilium ejus, et disciplinam,
et in absconditis suis consiliabitur.

11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.

11 Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinæ suæ,
et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.

12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.

12 Collaudabunt multi sapientiam ejus,
et usque in sæculum non delebitur.

13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:

13 Non recedet memoria ejus,
et nomen ejus requiretur a generatione in generationem.

14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.

14 Sapientiam ejus enarrabunt gentes,
et laudem ejus enuntiabit ecclesia.

15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:

15 Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille:
et si requieverit, proderit illi.

16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.

16 ¶ Adhuc consiliabor ut enarrem:
ut furore enim repletus sum.

17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.

17 In voce dicit: Obaudite me, divini fructus,
et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum fructificate.

18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.

18 Quasi Libanus odorem suavitatis habete.

19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.

19 Florete flores quasi lilium:
et date odorem, et frondete in gratiam:
et collaudate canticum, et benedicite Dominum in operibus suis.

20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.

20 Date nomini ejus magnificentiam,
et confitemini illi in voce labiorum vestrorum,
et in canticis labiorum, et citharis:
et sic dicetis in confessione:

21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.

21 Opera Domini universa bona valde.

22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.

22 In verbo ejus stetit aqua sicut congeries:
et in sermone oris illius sicut exceptoria aquarum:

23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.

23 quoniam in præcepto ipsius placor fit,
et non est minoratio in salute ipsius.

24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.

24 Opera omnis carnis coram illo,
et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis ejus.

25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.

25 A sæculo usque in sæculum respicit,
et nihil est mirabile in conspectu ejus.

26 The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

26 Non est dicere: Quid est hoc, aut quid est istud?
omnia enim in tempore suo quærentur.

27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.

27 Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit.

28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.

28 Quomodo cataclysmus aridam inebriavit,
sic ira ipsius gentes quæ non exquisierunt eum hæreditabit.

29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;

29 Quomodo convertit aquas in siccitatem, et siccata est terra,
et viæ illius viis illorum directæ sunt,
sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira ejus.

30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword, punishing the wicked to destruction.

30 Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio:
sic nequissimis bona et mala.

31 They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.

31 Initium necessariæ rei vitæ hominum, aqua, ignis, et ferrum,
sal, lac, et panis similagineus, et mel,
et botrus uvæ, et oleum, et vestimentum.

32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.

32 Hæc omnia sanctis in bona,
sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.

33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.

33 Sunt spiritus qui ad vindictam creati sunt,
et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua.

34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.

34 In tempore consummationis effundent virtutem,
et furorem ejus qui fecit illos placabunt.

35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.

35 Ignis, grando, fames, et mors,
omnia hæc ad vindictam creata sunt:

36 bestiarum dentes, et scorpii, et serpentes,
et rhomphæa vindicans in exterminium impios.

37 In mandatis ejus epulabuntur:
et super terram in necessitatem præparabuntur,
et in temporibus suis non præterient verbum.

38 Propterea ab initio confirmatus sum, et consiliatus sum,
et cogitavi, et scripta dimisi.

39 Omnia opera Domini bona,
et omne opus hora sua subministrabit.

40 Non est dicere: Hoc illo nequius est:
omnia enim in tempore suo comprobabuntur.

41 Et nunc in omni corde et ore collaudate,
et benedicite nomen Domini.