DENISON

[column A]

sperat in Dómino sanábitur. Qui confídit in corde suo stultus est; qui autem gráditur sapiénter, ipse salvábitur. Qui dat páuperi non indigébit; qui déspicit deprecántem sustinébit penúriam. Cum surréxerint ímpii, abscondéntur hómines; cum illi períerint, multiplicabúntur justi. XXIX. Viro qui corripiéntem dura cervíce contémnit, repentínus ei supervéniet intéritus, et eum sánitas non sequétur. In multiplicatióne justórum lætábitur vulgus; cum ímpii súmpserint principátum, gemet pópulus. Vir qui amat sapiéntiam lætíficat patrem suum; qui autem nutrit scorta perdet substántiam. Rex justus érigit terram; vir avárus déstruet eam. Homo qui blandis fictísque sermónibus lóquitur amíco suo rete expándit gréssibus ejus. Peccántem virum iníquum invólvet láqueus, et justus laudábit atque gaudébit. Novit justus causam páuperum; ímpius ignórat sciéntiam. Hómines pestiléntes díssipant civitátem; sapiéntes vero avértunt furórem. Vir sápiens si cum stulto conténderit, sive irascátur, sive rídeat, non invéniet réquiem. Viri sánguinum odérunt símplicem; justi autem quærunt ánimam ejus. Totum spíritum suum profert stultus; sápiens differt, et resérvat in pósterum. Princeps qui libénter audit verba mendácii, omnes minístros habet ímpios. Pauper et créditor obviavérunt sibi: utriúsque illuminátor est Dóminus. Rex qui júdicat in veritáte páuperes, thronus ejus in ætérnum firmábitur. Virga atque corréptio tríbuit sapiéntiam; puer autem qui dimíttitur voluntáti suæ confúndit matrem suam. In multiplicatióne impiórum multiplicabúntur scélera, et justi ruínas eórum vidébunt. Érudi fílium tuum, et refrigerábit te, et dabit delícias ánimæ tuæ. Cum prophetía defécerit, dissipábitur pópulus; qui vero custódit legem beátus est. Servus verbis non potest erudíri, quia quod dicis intélligit, et respondére contémnit. Vidísti hóminem velócem ad loquéndum? stultítia magis speránda est quam illíus corréptio. Qui delicáte a puerítia nutrit servum suum póstea séntiet eum contumácem. Vir iracúndus próvocat rixas, et qui ad indignándum fácilis est erit ad peccándum proclívior. Supérbum séquitur humílitas, et húmilem spíritu suscípiet glória. Qui cum fure partícipat odit ánimam suam; adjurántem audit, et non índicat. Qui timet hóminem cito córruet; qui sperat in Dómino sublevábitur. Multi requírunt fáciem príncipis, et judícium a Dómino egréditur singulórum. Abominántur justi virum ímpium, et abominántur ímpii eos qui in recta sunt via. Verbum custódiens fílius extra perditiónem erit. XXX. Verba Congregántis, fílii Voméntis. Vísio quam locútus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum moránte confortátus, ait: Stultíssimus sum virórum, et sapiéntia hóminum non est mecum. Non dídici sapiéntiam, et non novi sciéntiam sanctórum. Quis ascéndit in cælum, atque descéndit? quis contínuit spíritum in máni-

[column B]

-bus suis? quis colligávit aquas quasi in vestiménto? quis suscitávit omnes términos terræ? quod nomen est ejus, et quod nomen fílii ejus, si nosti? Omnis sermo Dei ignítus: clýpeus est sperántibus in se. Ne addas quidquam verbis illíus, et arguáris, inveniarísque mendax. Duo rogávi te: ne déneges mihi ántequam móriar: vanitátem et verba mendácia longe fac a me; mendicitátem et divítias ne déderis mihi: tríbue tantum víctui meo necessária, ne forte satiátus illíciar ad negándum, et dicam: Quis est Dóminus? aut egestáte compúlsus, furer,et perjúrem nomen Dei mei. Ne accúses servum ad dóminum suum, ne forte maledícat tibi, et córruas. Generátio quæ patri suo maledícit, et quæ matri suæ non benedícit; generátio quæ sibi munda vidétur, et tamen non est lota a sórdibus suis; generátio cujus excélsi sunt óculi, et pálpebræ ejus in alta surréctæ; generátio quæ pro déntibus gládios habet, et commándit moláribus suis, ut cómedat ínopes de terra, et páuperes ex homínibus. Sanguísugæ duæ sunt fíliæ, dicéntes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabília, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Súfficit. Inférnus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiátur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Súfficit. Óculum qui subsánnat patrem, et qui déspicit partum matris suæ, effódiant eum corvi de torréntibus, et cómedant eum fílii áquilæ! Tria sunt difficília mihi, et quartum pénitus ignóro: viam áquilæ in cælo, viam cólubri super petram, viam navis in médio mari, et viam viri in adolescéntia. Talis est et via mulíeris adúlteræ, quæ cómedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operáta malum. Per tria movétur terra, et quartum non potest sustinére: per servum, cum regnáverit; per stultum, cum saturátus fúerit cibo; per odiósam mulíerem, cum in matrimónio fúerit assúmpta; et per ancíllam, cum fúerit hæres dóminæ suæ. Quátuor sunt mínima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientióra sapiéntibus: fórmicæ, pópulus infírmus, qui præpárat in messe cibum sibi; lepúsculus, plebs inválida, qui collócat in petra cubíle suum; regem locústa non habet, et egréditur univérsa per turmas suas; stéllio mánibus nítitur, et morátur in aedibus regis. Tria sunt quæ bene gradiúntur, et quartum quod incédit felíciter: leo, fortíssimus bestiárum, ad nullíus pavébit occúrsum; gallus succínctus lumbos; et áries; nec est rex, qui resístat ei. Est qui stultus appáruit postquam elevátus est in sublíme; si enim intellexísset, ori suo imposuísset manum. Qui autem fórtiter premit úbera ad eliciéndum lac éxprimit butýrum; et qui veheménter emúngit élicit sánguinem; et qui próvocat iras prodúcit discórdias. [XXXI.] Verba Lamúelis regis. Vísio qua erudívit eum mater sua. Quid, dilécte mi? quid, dilécte úteri mei? quid, dilécte votórum meórum? Ne déderis muliéribus substántiam tuam, et divítias tuas ad deléndos reges. Noli régibus, o Lámuel, noli régibus dare vinum, quia nullum secrétum est ubi regnat ebriétas; et ne forte bibant, et obliviscántur judiciórum, et in

[Proverbs 28:25-31:5]

...he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed. 26 He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved. 27 He that giveth to the poor, shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence. 28 When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the lust shall be multiplied.

1 The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him. 2 When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn. 3 A man that loveth wisdom, rejoiceth his father: but he that maintaineth harlots, shall squander away his substance. 4 A just king setteth up the land: a covetous man shall destroy it. 5 A man that speaketh to his friend with flattering and dissembling words, spreadeth a net for his feet. 6 A snare shall entangle the wicked man when he sinneth: and the just shall praise and rejoice. 7 The just taketh notice of the cause of the poor: the wicked is void of knowledge. 8 Corrupt men bring a city to ruin: but wise men turn away wrath. 9 If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry or laugh, he shall find no rest. 10 Bloodthirsty men hate the upright: but just men seek his soul. 11 A fool uttereth all his mind: a wise man deferreth, and keepeth it till afterwards. 12 A prince that gladly heareth lying words, hath all his servants wicked. 13 The poor man and the creditor have met one another: the Lord is the enlightener of them both. 14 The king that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for ever. 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but the child that is left to his own will bringeth his mother to shame. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, crimes shall be multiplied: but the just shall see their downfall. 17 Instruct thy son, and he shall refresh thee, and shall give delight to thy soul. 18 When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law is blessed. 19 A slave will not be corrected by words: because he understandeth what thou sayest, and will not answer. 20 Hast thou seen a man hasty to speak? folly is rather to be looked for, than his amendment. 21 He that nourisheth his servant delicately from his childhood, afterwards shall find him stubborn. 22 A passionate man provoketh quarrels: and he that is easily stirred up to wrath, shall be more prone to sin. 23 Humiliation followeth the proud: and glory shall uphold the humble of spirit. 24 He that is partaker with a thief, hateth his own soul: he heareth one putting him to his oath, and discovereth not. 25 He that feareth man, shall quickly fall: he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be set on high. 26 Many seek the face of the prince: but the judgment of every one cometh forth from the Lord. 27 The just abhor the wicked man: and the wicked loathe them that are in the right way. The son that keepeth the word, shall be free from destruction.

1 The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the man spoke with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding with him, said: 2 I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me. 3 I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of saints. 4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest? 5 Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him. 6 Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved, and found a liar: 7 Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die. 8 Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life: 9 Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of my God. 10 Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou fall. 11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness. 13 A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high. 14 A generation, that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men. 15 The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough. 16 Hell, and the mouth of the womb, and the earth which is not satisfied with water: and the fire never saith: It is enough. 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth the labour of his mother in bearing him, let the ravens of the brooks pick it out, and the young eagles eat it. 18 Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of. 19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man in youth. 20 Such is also the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil. 21 By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot bear: 22 By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when he is filled with meat: 23 By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when she is heir to her mistress. 24 There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise: 25 The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest: 26 The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock: 27 The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands. 28 The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings' houses. 29 There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that walketh happily: 30 A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing he meeteth: 31 A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none can resist. 32 There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth. 33 And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath bringeth forth strife.

1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him. 2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows? 3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings. 4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: 5 And lest they drink and forget judgments...

[column A]

mutent causam filiórum páuperis. Date síceram mœréntibus, et vinum his qui amáro sunt ánimo. Bibant, et obliviscántur egestátis suæ, et dolóris sui non recordéntur ámplius. Áperi os tuum muto, et causis ómnium filiórum qui pertránseunt. Áperi os tuum, decérne quod justum est, et júdica ínopem et páuperem. XXXI. Mulíerem fortem quis invéniet? procul et de últimis fínibus prétium ejus. Confídit in ea cor viri sui, et spóliis non indigébit. Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, ómnibus diébus vitæ suæ. Quæsívit lanam et linum, et operáta est consília mánuum suárum. Facta est quasi navis institóris, de longe portans panem suum. Et de nocte surréxit, dedítque prædam domésticis suis, et cibária ancíllis suis. Considerávit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu mánuum suárum plantávit víneam. Accínxit fortitúdine lumbos suos, et roborávit bráchium suum. Gustávit, et vidit quia bona est negotiátio ejus; non extinguétur in nocte lucérna ejus. Manum suam misit ad fórtia, et dígiti ejus apprehendérunt fusum. Manum suam apéruit ínopi, et palmas suas exténdit ad páuperem. Non timébit dómui suæ a frigóribus nivis; omnes enim doméstici ejus vestíti sunt duplícibus. Stragulátam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et púrpura induméntum ejus. Nóbilis in portis vir ejus, quando séderit cum senatóribus terræ. Síndonem fecit, et véndidit, et cíngulum trádidit Chananaeo. Fortitúdo et decor induméntum ejus, et ridébit in die novíssimo. Os suum apéruit sapiéntiæ, et lex cleméntiæ in lingua ejus. Considerávit sémitas domus suæ, et panem otiósa non comédit. Surrexérunt fílii ejus, et beatíssimam prædicavérunt; vir ejus, et laudávit eam. Multæ fíliæ congregavérunt divítias; tu supergréssa es univérsas. Fallax grátia, et vana est pulchritúdo: múlier timens Dóminum, ipsa laudábitur. Date ei de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus.

Explicit liber parabularum Salamonis. Incipit prologus in ecclesiastes.

[14 lines untranscribed]

[column B]

[6 lines untranscribed]

Incipit liber.

Verba Ecclesiástæ, fílii David, regis Jerúsalem. Vánitas vanitátum, dixit Ecclesiástes; vánitas vanitátum, et ómnia vánitas. Quid habet ámplius homo de univérso labóre suo quo labórat sub sole? Generátio praeterit, et generátio advénit; terra autem in ætérnum stat. Óritur sol et occídit, et ad locum suum revértitur; ibíque renáscens, gyrat per merídiem, et fléctitur ad aquilónem. Lustrans univérsa in circúitu pergit spíritus, et in círculos suos revértitur. Ómnia flúmina intrant in mare, et mare non redúndat; ad locum unde éxeunt flúmina revertúntur ut íterum fluant. Cunctæ res diffíciles; non potest eas homo explicáre sermóne. Non saturátur óculus visu, nec auris audítu implétur. Quid est quod fuit? Ipsum quod futúrum est. Quid est quod factum est? Ipsum quod faciéndum est. Nihil sub sole novum, nec valet quisquam dícere: Ecce hoc recens est: jam enim præcéssit in saeculis quæ fuérunt ante nos. Non est priórum memória; sed nec eórum quidem quæ póstea futúra sunt erit recordátio apud eos qui futúri sunt in novíssimo. Ego Ecclesiástes fui rex Israël in Jerúsalem; et propósui in ánimo meo quaerere et investigáre sapiénter de ómnibus quæ fiunt sub sole. Hanc occupatiónem péssimam dedit Deus fíliis hóminum, ut occuparéntur in ea. Vidi cuncta quæ fiunt sub sole, et ecce univérsa vánitas et afflíctio spíritus. Pervérsi diffícile corrigúntur, et stultórum infinítus est númerus. Locútus sum in corde meo, dicens: Ecce magnus efféctus sum, et præcéssi omnes sapiéntia qui fuérunt ante me in Jerúsalem; et mens mea contempláta est multa sapiénter, et dídici. Dedíque cor meum ut scirem prudéntiam atque doctrínam, errorésque et stultítiam; et agnóvi quod in his quoque esset labor et afflíctio spíritus: eo quod in multa sapiéntia multa sit indignátio; et qui addit sciéntiam, addit et labórem. II. Dixi ego in corde meo: Vadam, et áffluam delíciis, et fruar bonis; et vidi quod hoc quoque esset vánitas. Risum reputávi errórem, et gáudio dixi: Quid frustra decíperis? Cogitávi in corde meo abstráhere a vino carnem meam, ut ánimam meam transférrem ad sapiéntiam, devitarémque stultítiam, donec vidérem quid esset útile fíliis hóminum, quo facto opus est sub sole número diérum vitæ suæ. Magnificávi ópera mea, ædificávi mihi domos, et plantávi víneas; feci hortos et pomária, et cónsevi ea cuncti géneris

[Proverbs 31:5-31]

...and pervert the cause of the children of the poor. 6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind: 7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more. 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass. 9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor. 10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. 11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. 12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. 13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. 14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. 15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens. 16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. 17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. 18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. 19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. 20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. 21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. 22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering. 23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. 24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. 25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. 26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. 27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. 28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. 29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

[Prologue to Ecclesiastes not transcribed.]

[Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:5]

1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. 3 What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun? 4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever. 5 The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again, 6 Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again. 8 All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. 9 What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done. 10 Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end. 12 I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13 And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein. 14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. 15 The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite. 16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned. 17 And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit, 18 Because in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.

1 I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity. 2 Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived? 3 I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards, 5 I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds...