Wisdom 10

Wisdom 10, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. This is he, who was formed first by God, the father of the world, who was alone when created; she preserved him,

   Hæc illum qui primus formatus est a Deo patre orbis terrarum, cum solus esset creatus, custodivit,

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   and led him out of his offense, and gave him the power to maintain all things.

   et eduxit illum a delicto suo, et dedit illi virtutem continendi omnia.

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   After this, when the unjust man withdrew from her in his anger, he perished through anger by the murder of his brother.†

   Ab hac ut recessit injustus in ira sua, per iram homicidii fraterni deperiit.

4. 4

   Because of this, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it again, guiding the just by means of contemptible wood.†

   Propter quem cum aqua deleret terram, sanavit iterum sapientia, per contemptibile lignum justum gubernans.

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   Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame before God, and preserved his strength out of mercy for his sons.†

   Hæc et in consensu nequitiæ, cum se nationes contulissent, scivit justum, et conservavit sine querela Deo, et in filii misericordia fortem custodivit.

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   She freed this just man from the destruction of the impious, fleeing descending fire in the Five Cities,†

   Hæc justum a pereuntibus impiis liberavit fugientem, descendente igne in Pentapolim:

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   which, as a testimony to their wickedness, is a constantly smoking desolate land, and the trees bear fruit at uncertain times, and a figure of salt stands as a monument to an unbelieving soul.

   quibus in testimonium nequitiæ fumigabunda constat deserta terra, et incerto tempore fructus habentes arbores: et incredibilis animæ memoria stans figmentum salis.

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   For, in disregarding wisdom, they are fallen, not so much in this, that they were ignorant of good, but that they bequeathed to men a memorial of their foolishness, so that, in the things in which they sinned, they were unable to escape notice.

   Sapientiam enim prætereuntes, non tantum in hoc lapsi sunt ut ignorarent bona, sed et insipientiæ suæ reliquerunt hominibus memoriam, ut in his quæ peccaverunt nec latere potuissent.

9. 9

   Yet wisdom has freed from sorrow those who are self-observant.

   Sapientia autem hos qui se observant a doloribus liberavit.

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    She led the just man, this fugitive of his brother’s wrath, by the right ways, and revealed to him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of holiness, honored him in his labors, and completed his labors.†

    Hæc profugum iræ fratris justum deduxit per vias rectas, et ostendit illi regnum Dei, et dedit illi scientiam sanctorum; honestavit illum in laboribus, et complevit labores illius.

11. 11

    In the midst of encircling deceit, she flowed around him and made him honest.

    In fraude circumvenientium illum affuit illi, et honestum fecit illum.

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    She guarded him from his enemies, and she defended him from seducers, and she gave him a strong conflict so that he might overcome and might know that the power of all things is wisdom.†

    Custodivit illum ab inimicis, et a seductoribus tutavit illum: et certamen forte dedit illi ut vinceret, et sciret quoniam omnium potentior est sapientia.

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    She did not abandon the just man when he was sold, but freed him from sinners; she went down with him into the pit,†

    Hæc venditum justum non dereliquit, sed a peccatoribus liberavit eum; descenditque cum illo in foveam,

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    and she did not abandon him in chains, while she brought him the scepter of the kingdom and power against those who oppressed him, and revealed them to be liars who had dishonored him, and gave him everlasting glory.

    et in vinculis non dereliquit illum, donec afferret illi sceptrum regni, et potentiam adversus eos qui eum deprimebant: et mendaces ostendit qui maculaverunt illum, et dedit illi claritatem æternam.

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    She freed this just people and the blameless offspring, from the nations that had oppressed them.

    Hæc populum justum et semen sine querela liberavit a nationibus quæ illum deprimebant.

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    She entered the soul of the servant of God and stood against dreadful kings in the midst of portents and signs,†

    Intravit in animam servi Dei, et stetit contra reges horrendos in portentis et signis.

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    and she rendered to the just the wages of their labors, and led them along a wondrous way; and she was to them, like a cover by day, and like the light of the stars by night.

    Et reddidit justis mercedem laborum suorum, et deduxit illos in via mirabili: et fuit illis in velamento diei, et in luce stellarum per noctem;

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    She carried them through the Red Sea, and led them across a great water.

    transtulit illos per mare Rubrum, et transvexit illos per aquam nimiam.

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    But their enemies, she submerged in the sea, and from the furthest depths, she drew them up. Therefore, the just carried off the spoils of the impious.

    Inimicos autem illorum demersit in mare, et ab altitudine inferorum eduxit illos. Ideo justi tulerunt spolia impiorum,

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    And they chanted to your holy name, Lord, and they together praised your victorious hand,

    et decantaverunt, Domine, nomen sanctum tuum, et victricem manum tuam laudaverunt pariter:

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    because wisdom opened the mouth of the mute, and made the speech of infants eloquent.

    quoniam sapientia aperuit os mutorum, et linguas infantium fecit disertas.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)