德训篇 16

1Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.

2Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.

3For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.

4And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.

5By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.

6Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.

7In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out.

8The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:

9And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.

10He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.

11So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:

12For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:

13According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.

14The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.

15All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.

16Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall remember me from on high?

17In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?

18Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,

19The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.

20And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him:

21And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see?

22For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.

23He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.

24Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.

25And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.

26The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.

27He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.

28Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.

29Be not thou incredulous to his word.

30After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.

31The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.

1[Ne jucunderis in filiis impiis, si multiplicentur: nec oblecteris super ipsos, si non est timor Dei in illis.

2Non credas vitæ illorum, et ne respexeris in labores eorum.

3Melior est enim unus timens Deum, quam mille filii impii:

4et utile est mori sine filiis, quam relinquere filios impios.

5Ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria: tribus impiorum deseretur.

6Multa talia vidit oculis meus, et fortiora horum audivit auris mea.

7In synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis, et in gente incredibili exardescet ira.

8Non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antiqui gigantes, qui destructi sunt confidentes suæ virtuti.

9Et non pepercit peregrinationi Lot, et execratus est eos præ superbia verbi illorum.

10Non misertus est illis, gentem totam perdens, et extollentem se in peccatis suis.

11Et sicut sexcenta millia peditum, qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui: et si unus fuisset cervicatus, mirum si fuisset immunis.

12Misericordia enim et ira est cum illo: potens exoratio, et effundens iram.

13Secundum misericordiam suam, sic correptio illius homines secundum opera sua judicat.

14Non effugiet in rapina peccator, et non retardabit sufferentia misericordiam facientis.

15Omnis 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?

17in populo magno non agnoscar: quæ est enim anima mea in tam immensa creatura?

18Ecce cælum et cæli cælorum, abyssus, et universa terra, et quæ in eis sunt, in conspectu illius commovebuntur.

19Montes simul, et colles, et fundamenta terræ, cum conspexerit illa Deus, tremore concutientur.

20Et in omnibus his insensatum est cor, et omne cor intelligitur ab illo.

21Et vias illius quis intelligit, et procellam quam nec oculus videbit hominis?

22Nam plurima illius opera sunt in absconsis: sed opera justitiæ ejus quis enuntiabit, aut quis sustinebit? longe enim est testamentum a quibusdam, et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est.

23Qui minoratur corde cogitat inania, et vir imprudens et errans cogitat stulta.]

24[Audi me, fili, et disce disciplinam sensus, et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo:

25et dicam in æquitate disciplinam, et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam: et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo, et dico in æquitate spiritus virtutes quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio, et in veritate enuntio scientiam ejus.

26In judicio Dei opera ejus ab initio, et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum, et initia eorum in gentibus suis.

27Ornavit in æternum opera illorum: nec esurierunt, nec laboraverunt, et non destiterunt ab operibus suis.

28Unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiabit in æternum:

29non sis incredibilis verbo illius.

30Post hæc Deus in terram respexit, et implevit illam bonis suis:

31anima omnis vitalis denuntiavit ante faciem ipsius, et in ipsam iterum reversio illorum.]

1You should not rejoice in impious children, if they are successful; nor should you take delight in them, if the fear of God is not in them.

2You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.

3For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.

4And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.

5By means of one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.

6Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.

7In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.

8The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.

9And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.

10He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.

11And this was so with six hundred thousand men, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. And if even a single obstinate person had escaped unpunished, it would be a wonder.

12For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.

13As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.

14The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.

15Every mercy will make a place for each man, according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his sojourn.

16You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”

17or, “Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?”

18Behold: the heavens, and the heaven of the heavens, the abyss, and the entire earth, and the things that are within these, will be shaken by his gaze,

19together with mountains and hills, and the foundations of the earth. When God casts his gaze upon them, they will be struck with trembling.

20And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.

21And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?

22For many of his works are concealed. But who will announce the works of his justice? Or who will endure them? For the testament is far from some persons, and the examination of each thing is in its end.

23Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.

24Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.

25And I will speak with equity about discipline, and I will strive to announce wisdom. So attend to my words in your heart, and I will speak with equity of spirit, about the virtues that God has set within his works from the beginning, and I will announce his knowledge in truth.

26With the judgment of God, his works have been done from the beginning; and from their institution, he himself distinguished their parts and set their beginnings, in their kinds.

27He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.

28Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.

29You should not be incredulous at his word.

30Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness.

31The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him.