§ Ecclesiasticus 15

1 He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,

1 Qui timet Deum faciet bona, et qui continens est justitiæ apprehendet illam:

2 And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

2 et obviabit illi quasi mater honorificata, et quasi mulier a virginitate suscipiet illum.

3 With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved.

3 Cibabit illum pane vitæ et intellectus, et aqua sapientiæ salutaris potabit illum: et firmabitur in illo, et non flectetur:

4 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.

4 et continebit illum, et non confundetur: et exaltabit illum apud proximos suos,

5 And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.

5 et in medio ecclesiæ aperiet os ejus, et adimplebit illum spiritu sapientiæ et intellectus, et stola gloriæ vestiet illum.

6 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

6 Jucunditatem et exsultationem thesaurizabit super illum, et nomine æterno hæreditabit illum.

7 But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.

7 Homines stulti non apprehendent illam, et homines sensati obviabunt illi. Homines stulti non videbunt eam: longe enim abest a superbia et dolo.

8 Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.

8 Viri mendaces non erunt illius memores: et viri veraces invenientur in illa, et successum habebunt usque ad inspectionem Dei.

9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:

9 Non est speciosa laus in ore peccatoris,

10 For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.

10 quoniam a Deo profecta est sapientia. Sapientiæ enim Dei astabit laus, et in ore fideli abundabit, et Dominator dabit eam illi.

11 Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.

11 Non dixeris: Per Deum abest: quæ enim odit ne feceris.

12 Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.

12 Non dicas: Ille me implanavit: non enim necessarii sunt ei homines impii.

13 The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.

13 Omne execramentum erroris odit Dominus, et non erit amabile timentibus eum.

14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.

14 Deus ab initio constituit hominem, et reliquit illum in manu consilii sui:

15 He added his commandments and precepts.

15 adjecit mandata et præcepta sua.

16 If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.

16 Si volueris mandata servare, conservabunt te, et in perpetuum fidem placitam facere.

17 He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.

17 Apposuit tibi aquam et ignem, ad quod volueris porrige manum tuam.

18 Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:

18 Ante hominem vita et mors, bonum et malum: quod placuerit ei dabitur illi:

19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.

19 quoniam multa sapientia Dei, et fortis in potentia, videns omnes sine intermissione.

20 The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.

20 Oculi Domini ad timentes eum, et ipse agnoscit omnem operam hominis.

21 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin:

21 Nemini mandavit impie agere, et nemini dedit spatium peccandi: