Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 42
Of what things we ought not to be ashamed. Cautions with regard to women. The works and greatness of God.
Non duplices sermonem auditus de revelatione sermonis absconditi: et eris vere sine confusione, et invenies gratiam in conspectu omnium hominum. Ne pro his omnibus confundaris, et ne accipias personam ut delinquas:
Repeat not the word which thou hast heard, and disclose not the thing that is secret; so shalt thou be truly without confusion, and shalt find favour before all men: be not ashamed of any of these things, and accept no person to sin thereby:
de lege Altissimi, et testamento, et de judicio justificare impium,
Of the law of the most High, and of his covenant, and of judgment to justify the ungodly:
de verbo sociorum et viatorum, et de datione hæreditatis amicorum,
Of the affair of companions and travellers, and of the gift of the inheritance of friends:
de æqualitate stateræ et ponderum, de acquisitione multorum et paucorum,
Of exactness of balance and weights, of getting much or little:
de corruptione emptionis et negotiatorum, et de multa disciplina filiorum, et servo pessimo latus sanguinare.
Of the corruption of buying, and of merchants, and of much correction of children, and to make the side of a wicked slave to bleed.
Super mulierem nequam bonum est signum.
Sure keeping is good over a wicked wife.
Ubi manus multæ sunt, claude: et quodcumque trades, numera et appende: datum vero et acceptum omne describe.
Where there are many hands, shut up, and deliver all things in number, and weight: and put all in writing that thou givest out or receivest in.
De disciplina insensati et fatui, et de senioribus qui judicantur ab adolescentibus: et eris eruditus in omnibus, et probabilis in conspectu omnium vivorum.
Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the aged, that are judged by young men: and thou shalt be well instructed in all things, and well approved in the sight of all men living.
Filia patris abscondita est vigilia, et sollicitudo ejus aufert somnum: ne forte in adolescentia sua adulta efficiatur, et cum viro commorata odibilis fiat:
The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth, and the care for her taketh away his sleep, when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age, and when she is married, lest she should be hateful:
nequando polluatur in virginitate sua, et in paternis suis gravida inveniatur: ne forte cum viro commorata transgrediatur, aut certe sterilis efficiatur.
In her virginity, lest she should be corrupted, and be found with child in her father's house: and having a husband, lest she should misbehave herself, or at the least become barren.
Super filiam luxuriosam confirma custodiam, nequando faciat te in opprobrium venire inimicis, a detractione in civitate, et objectione plebis, et confundat te in multitudine populi.
Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter: lest at anytime she make thee become a laughingstock to thy enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and she make thee ashamed before all the multitude.
Omni homini noli intendere in specie, et in medio mulierum noli commorari:
Behold not everybody's beauty: and tarry not among women.
de vestimentis enim procedit tinea, et a muliere iniquitas viri.
For from garments cometh a moth, and from a woman the iniquity of a man.
Melior est enim iniquitas viri quam mulier benefaciens, et mulier confundens in opprobrium.
For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach.
Memor ero igitur operum Domini, et quæ vidi annuntiabo. In sermonibus Domini opera ejus.
I will now remember the works of the Lord, and I will declare the things I have seen. By the words of the Lord are his works.
Sol illuminans per omnia respexit, et gloria Domini plenum est opus ejus.
The sun giving light hath looked upon all things, and full of the glory of the Lord is his work.
Nonne Dominus fecit sanctos enarrare omnia mirabilia sua, quæ confirmavit Dominus omnipotens stabiliri in gloria sua?
Hath not the Lord made the saints to declare all his wonderful works, which the Lord Almighty hath firmly settled to be established for his glory?
Abyssum et cor hominum investigavit, et in astutia eorum excogitavit.
He hath searched out the deep, and the heart of men: and considered their crafty devices.
Cognovit enim Dominus omnem scientiam, et inspexit in signum ævi, annuntians quæ præterierunt et quæ superventura sunt, revelans vestigia occultorum.
For the Lord knoweth all knowledge, and hath beheld the signs of the world, he declareth the things that are past, and the things that are to come, and revealeth the traces of hidden things.
Non præterit illum omnis cogitatus, et non abscondit se ab eo ullus sermo.
No thought escapeth him, and no word can hide itself from him.
Magnalia sapientiæ suæ decoravit, qui est ante sæculum et usque in sæculum: neque adjectum est,
He hath beautified the glorious works of his wisdom: and he is from eternity to eternity, and to him nothing may be added,
neque minuitur, et non eget alicujus consilio.
Nor can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.
Quam desiderabilia omnia opera ejus! et tamquam scintilla quæ est considerare!
O how desirable are all his works, and what we can know is but as a spark!
Omnia hæc vivunt, et manent in sæculum, et in omni necessitate omnia obaudiunt ei.
All these things live, and remain for ever, and for every use all things obey him.
Omnia duplicia, unum contra unum, et non fecit quidquam deesse.
All things are double, one against another, and he hath made nothing defective.
Uniuscujusque confirmavit bona: et quis satiabitur videns gloriam ejus?
He hath established the good things of every one. And who shall be filled with beholding his glory?