1 She prospered their works in the hand of the holy prophet.

1 Direxit opera eorum in manibus prophetæ sancti.

2 They went through the wilderness that was not inhabited, and pitched tents in places where there lay no way.

2 Iter fecerunt per deserta quæ non habitabantur,
et in locis desertis fixerunt casas.

3 They stood against their enemies, and were avenged of their adversaries.

3 Steterunt contra hostes,
et de inimicis se vindicaverunt.

4 When they were thirsty, they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the flinty rock, and their thirst was quenched out of the hard stone.

4 Sitierunt, et invocaverunt te,
et data est illis aqua de petra altissima,
et requies sitis de lapide duro.

5 For by what things their enemies were punished, by the same they in their need were benefited.

5 ¶ Per quæ enim pœnas passi sunt inimici illorum
a defectione potus sui,
et in eis cum abundarent filii Israël lætati sunt:

6 For instead of a fountain of a perpetual running river troubled with foul blood,

6 per hæc, cum illis deessent, bene cum illis actum est.

7 For a manifest reproof of that commandment, whereby the infants were slain, thou gavest unto them abundance of water by a means which they hoped not for:

7 Nam pro fonte quidem sempiterni fluminis,
humanum sanguinem dedisti injustis.

8 Declaring by that thirst then how thou hadst punished their adversaries.

8 Qui cum minuerentur in traductione infantium occisorum,
dedisti illis abundantem aquam insperate,

9 For when they were tried, albeit but in mercy chastised, they knew how the ungodly were judged in wrath and tormented, thirsting in another manner than the just.

9 ostendens per sitim quæ tunc fuit,
quemadmodum tuos exaltares,
et adversarios illorum necares.

10 For these thou didst admonish and try, as a father: but the other, as a severe king, thou didst condemn and punish.

10 Cum enim tentati sunt,
et quidem cum misericordia disciplinam accipientes,
scierunt quemadmodum cum ira judicati impii tormenta paterentur.

11 Whether they were absent or present, they were vexed alike.

11 Hos quidem tamquam pater monens probasti;
illos autem tamquam durus rex interrogans condemnasti.

12 For a double grief came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past.

12 Absentes enim, et præsentes, similiter torquebantur.

13 For when they heard by their own punishments the other to be benefited, they had some feeling of the Lord.

13 Duplex enim illos acceperat tædium et gemitus,
cum memoria præteritorum.

14 For whom they rejected with scorn, when he was long before thrown out at the casting forth of the infants, him in the end, when they saw what came to pass, they admired.

14 Cum enim audirent per sua tormenta bene secum agi,
commemorati sunt Dominum, admirantes in finem exitus.

15 But for the foolish devices of their wickedness, wherewith being deceived they worshipped serpents void of reason, and vile beasts, thou didst send a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon them for vengeance;

15 Quem enim in expositione prava projectum deriserunt,
in finem eventus mirati sunt,
non similiter justis sitientes.

16 That they might know, that wherewithal a man sinneth, by the same also shall he be punished.

16 Pro cogitationibus autem insensatis iniquitatis illorum,
quod quidam errantes colebant mutos serpentes
et bestias supervacuas,
immisisti illis multitudinem mutorum animalium in vindictam;

17 For thy Almighty hand, that made the world of matter without form, wanted not means to send among them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,

17 ut scirent quia per quæ peccat quis, per hæc et torquetur.

18 Or unknown wild beasts, full of rage, newly created, breathing out either a fiery vapour, or filthy scents of scattered smoke, or shooting horrible sparkles out of their eyes:

18 Non enim impossibilis erat omnipotens manus tua,
quæ creavit orbem terrarum ex materia invisa,
immittere illis multitudinem ursorum, aut audaces leones,

19 Whereof not only the harm might dispatch them at once, but also the terrible sight utterly destroy them.

19 aut novi generis ira plenas ignotas bestias,
aut vaporem ignium spirantes,
aut fumi odorem proferentes,
aut horrendas ab oculis scintillas emittentes;

20 Yea, and without these might they have fallen down with one blast, being persecuted of vengeance, and scattered abroad through the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight.

20 quarum non solum læsura poterat illos exterminare,
sed et aspectus per timorem occidere.

21 For thou canst shew thy great strength at all times when thou wilt; and who may withstand the power of thine arm?

21 Sed et sine his uno spiritu poterant occidi,
persecutionem passi ab ipsis factis suis,
et dispersi per spiritum virtutis tuæ:
sed omnia in mensura, et numero et pondere disposuisti.

22 For the whole world before thee is as a little grain of the balance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down upon the earth.

22 Multum enim valere, tibi soli supererat semper:
et virtuti brachii tui quis resistet?

23 But thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things, and winkest at the sins of men, because they should amend.

23 Quoniam tamquam momentum stateræ,
sic est ante te orbis terrarum,
et tamquam gutta roris antelucani quæ descendit in terram.

24 For thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made: for never wouldest thou have made any thing, if thou hadst hated it.

24 Sed misereris omnium, quia omnia potes;
et dissimulas peccata hominum, propter pœnitentiam.

25 And how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy will? or been preserved, if not called by thee?

25 Diligis enim omnia quæ sunt,
et nihil odisti eorum quæ fecisti;
nec enim odiens aliquid constituisti aut fecisti.

26 But thou sparest all: for they are thine, O Lord, thou lover of souls.

26 Quomodo autem posset aliquid permanere, nisi tu voluisses?
aut quod a te vocatum non esset conservaretur?

27 Parcis autem omnibus, quoniam tua sunt, Domine,
qui amas animas.