Sapientiæ Solomonis 4
Clementine Vulgate, 1598Translation
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
King James Version with Apocrypha
1[O quam pulchra est casta generatio, cum claritate ! immortalis est enim memoria illius, quoniam et apud Deum nota est, et apud homines.
1Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.
2Cum præsens est, imitantur illam, et desiderant eam cum se eduxerit; et in perpetuum coronata triumphat, incoinquinatorum certaminum præmium vincens.
2When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
3Multigena autem impiorum multitudo non erit utilis, et spuria vitulamina non dabunt radices altas, nec stabile firmamentum collocabunt.
3But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
4Etsi in ramis in tempore germinaverint, infirmiter posita, a vento commovebuntur, et a nimietate ventorum eradicabuntur.
4For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
5Confringentur enim rami inconsummati; et fructus illorum inutiles et acerbi ad manducandum, et ad nihilum apti.
5The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
6Ex iniquis enim somnis filii qui nascuntur, testes sunt nequitiæ adversus parentes in interrogatione sua.
6For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
7Justus autem si morte præoccupatus fuerit, in refrigerio erit;
7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
8senectus enim venerabilis est non diuturna, neque annorum numero computata: cani autem sunt sensus hominis,
8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
9et ætas senectutis vita immaculata.
9But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
10Placens Deo factus est dilectus, et vivens inter peccatores translatus est.
10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
11Raptus est, ne malitia mutaret intellectum ejus, aut ne fictio deciperet animam illius.
11Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
12Fascinatio enim nugacitatis obscurat bona, et inconstantia concupiscentiæ transvertit sensum sine malitia.
12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
13Consummatus in brevi, explevit tempora multa;
13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
14placita enim erat Deo anima illius: propter hoc properavit educere illum de medio iniquitatum. Populi autem videntes, et non intelligentes, nec ponentes in præcordiis talia,
14For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
15quoniam gratia Dei et misericordia est in sanctos ejus, et respectus in electos illius.
15This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
16Condemnat autem justus mortuus vivos impios, et juventus celerius consummata longam vitam injusti.
16Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.
17Videbunt enim finem sapientis, et non intelligent quid cogitaverit de illo Deus, et quare munierit illum Dominus.
17For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.
18Videbunt, et contemnent eum; illos autem Dominus irridebit.
18They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.
19Et erunt post hæc decidentes sine honore, et in contumelia inter mortuos in perpetuum: quoniam disrumpet illos inflatos sine voce, et commovebit illos a fundamentis, et usque ad supremum desolabuntur, et erunt gementes, et memoria illorum peribit.
19For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
20Venient in cogitatione peccatorum suorum timidi, et traducent illos ex adverso iniquitates ipsorum.]
20And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
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