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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]The prophecy which the man spake unto Ithiel, even to Ithiel, and Ucal. |
| [2]Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum. |
[2]Surely I am more foolish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man in me. |
| [3]Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum. |
[3]For I have not learned wisdom, nor attained to the knowledge of holy things. |
| [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 hath ascended up to heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the world? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? |
| [5]Omnis sermo Dei ignitus, clypeus est sperantibus in se. |
[5]Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him. |
| [6]Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax. |
[6]Put nothing unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. |
| [7]Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar: |
[7]Two things have I required of thee: deny me them not 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 lies: give me not poverty, nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me, |
| [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 full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. |
| [10]Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas. |
[10]Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended. |
| [11]Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit; |
[11]There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. |
| [12]generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis; |
[12]There is a generation that are pure in their own conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthiness. |
| [13]generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ; |
[13]There is a generation, whose eyes are haughty, and their eyelids are lifted up. |
| [14]generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus. |
[14]There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their chawes as knives to eat up the afflicted out of the earth, and the poor from among men. |
| [15]Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Sufficit. |
[15]The horse-leech hath two daughters which cry, Give, give. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, four that say not, It is enough. |
| [16]Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. |
[16]The grave, and the barren womb, the earth that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that saith not, 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 mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it. |
| [18]Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro: |
[18]There be three things hid from me: yea, four that I know not, |
| [19]viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia. |
[19]The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a stone, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid. |
| [20]Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum. |
[20]Such is the way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have not committed iniquity. |
| [21]Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere: |
[21]For three things the earth is moved: yea, for four it cannot sustain itself: |
| [22]per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo; |
[22]For a servant when he reigneth, and a fool when he is filled with meat, |
| [23]per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta, et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ. |
[23]For the hateful woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heir to her mistress. |
| [24]Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus: |
[24]These be four small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisdom: |
| [25]formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi; |
[25]The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meat in summer: |
| [26]lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum; |
[26]The conies a people not mighty, yet make their houses in the rock: |
| [27]regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas; |
[27]The grasshopper hath no king, yet go they forth all by bands: |
| [28]stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis. |
[28]The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces. |
| [29]Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter: |
[29]There be three things that order well their going: yea, four are comely in going, |
| [30]leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum; |
[30]A lion which is strong among beasts, and turneth not at the sight of any: |
| [31]gallus succinctus lumbos, et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei. |
[31]A lusty greyhound, and a goat, and a king against whom there is no rising up. |
| [32]Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum. |
[32]If thou hast been foolish in lifting thyself up, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. |
| [33]Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem; et qui provocat iras producit discordias. |
[33]When one churneth milk, he bringeth forth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out: so he that forceth wrath, bringeth forth strife. |