1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.
2 Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.
3 Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.
4 For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.
5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.
6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.
7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.
8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.
9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:
10 Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
11 And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.
12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works
13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
14 Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.
15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.
16 His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.
17 Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?
18 Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.
19 The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when the Lord looketh upon them.
20 No heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?
21 It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.
22 Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.
23 He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies.
24 My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy heart.
25 I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.
26 The works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.
27 He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.
28 None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word.
29 After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
30 With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they shall return into it again.
1 et ne iucunderis in filiis impiis si multiplicentur
non oblecteris super ipsos si non est timor Dei cum
illis
2 non credas vitae illorum
et ne respexeris in labores illorum
3 melior est enim unus timens Deum quam mille filii impii
4 et utile mori sine filiis quam relinquere filios impios
5 ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria
et a tribus impiis deseretur
6 multa talia vidit oculus meus
et fortiora horum audivit auris mea
7 in synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis
et in gente incredibili exardescit ira
8 non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antiquis gigantibus
qui destruxerunt confidentes suae
virtuti
9 et non pepercit peregrinationi illorum
et execratus est illos prae superbia verbi illorum
10 non misertus est illis gentem totam perdens
et extollentes se in suis peccatis
11 et sicut sescenta milia peditum
qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui
et si unus fuisset cervicatus mirum si fuisset inmunis
12 misericordia enim et ira est cum illo
potens exoratio et effundens iram
13 secundum misericordiam suam
sic correptio illius hominem
secundum operam suam iudicat
14 non effugiet in rapinam peccator
et non retardabit sufferentia misericordiam
facientis
15 omnis misericordia faciet locum
unicuique secundum meritum operum suorum
et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius
16 non dicas a Deo abscondar et ex summo quis mei memorabitur
17 in populo magno non agnoscar
quae est enim anima mea in tam inmensa creatura
18 ecce caelum et caeli caelorum
abyssus et universa terra et quae in eis sunt
in conspectu illius commovebuntur
19 montes simul et colles et fundamenta terrae
et cum conspexerit illa Deus tremore concutientur
20 et omne cor intellegetur
21 et vias illius quis intellegit
et procella quam nec oculus videbit
hominis
22 nam plurima opera illius sunt in absconsis
opera iustitiae quis enuntiabit
aut quis sustinebit
longe enim est testamentum a quibusdam
et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est
23 qui minoratur corde cogitat inania
et vir inprudens et errans cogitat stulta
24 audi me fili et disce disciplinam sensus
et in verbis meis adtende in corde
25 edicam in aequitate disciplinam
et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam
et in verbis meis adtende in corde tuo
et dico in aequitate spiritus virtutes
quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio
et in veritate enuntio scientiam eius
26 in iudicio Dei opera ipsius ab initio
et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum
et initia ipsorum in gentibus suis
27 ornavit in aeternum opera illorum
nec esurierunt nec laboraverunt
et non destiterunt ab operibus suis
28 unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiavit
usque in aevum
29 non incredibiles
verbo illius
30 post haec Deus in terram respexit
et implevit illam bonis suis
31 anima omnis vitalis denudavit
ante faciem ipsius
et ipsa iterum reversio illorum