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| [1]Verba Congregantis, filii Vomentis. Visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait: |
[1]These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease. |
| [2]Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum. |
[2]For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men. |
| [3]Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum. |
[3]God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy. |
| [4]Quis ascendit in cælum, atque descendit? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ? quod nomen est ejus, et quod nomen filii ejus, si nosti? |
[4]Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children? |
| [5]Omnis sermo Dei ignitus, clypeus est sperantibus in se. |
[5]For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him. |
| [6]Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax. |
[6]Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar. |
| [7]Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar: |
[7]Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die. |
| [8]vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi, tribue tantum victui meo necessaria: |
[8]Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth or poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient: |
| [9]ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei. |
[9]lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear vainly by the name of God. |
| [10]Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas. |
[10]Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed. |
| [11]Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit; |
[11]A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother. |
| [12]generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis; |
[12]A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way. |
| [13]generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ; |
[13]A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids. |
| [14]generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus. |
[14]A wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men. |
| [15]Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Sufficit. |
[15]The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough. |
| [16]Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. |
[16]The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. |
| [17]Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ ! |
[17]The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it. |
| [18]Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro: |
[18]Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not: |
| [19]viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia. |
[19]the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth. |
| [20]Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum. |
[20]Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss. |
| [21]Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere: |
[21]By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear: |
| [22]per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo; |
[22]if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food; |
| [23]per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta, et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ. |
[23]or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man. |
| [24]Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus: |
[24]And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise: |
| [25]formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi; |
[25]the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer; |
| [26]lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum; |
[26]the rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks. |
| [27]regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas; |
[27]The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command. |
| [28]stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis. |
[28]And the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings. |
| [29]Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter: |
[29]And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely. |
| [30]leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum; |
[30]A lion's whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast; |
| [31]gallus succinctus lumbos, et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei. |
[31]and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation. |
| [32]Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum. |
[32]If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced. |
| [33]Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem; et qui provocat iras producit discordias. |
[33]Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing one's nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes. |