DENISON

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illórum immortalitáte plena est. In paucis vexáti sunt, in multis bene disponéntur, quóniam Deus tentávit eos, et invénit illos dignos se. Tamquam aurum in fornáce probávit illos, et quasi holocáusti hóstiam accépit illos, et in témpore erit respéctus illórum. Fulgébunt justi et tamquam scintíllæ in arundinéto discúrrent. Judicábunt natiónes, et dominabúntur pópulis, et regnábit Dóminus illórum in perpétuum. Qui confídunt in illo intélligent veritátem, et fidéles in dilectióne acquiéscent illi, quóniam donum et pax est eléctis ejus. Ímpii autem secúndum quæ cogitavérunt correptiónem habébunt: qui neglexérunt justum, et a Dómino recessérunt. Sapiéntiam enim et disciplínam qui ábjicit infélix est: et vácua est spes illórum, et labóres sine fructu, et inutília ópera eórum. Mulíeres eórum insensátæ sunt, et nequíssimi fílii eórum. Maledícta creatúra eórum, quóniam felix est stérilis; et incoinquináta, quæ nescívit thorum in delícto, habébit fructum in respectióne animárum sanctárum; et spado qui non operátus est per manus suas iniquitátem, nec cogitávit advérsus Deum nequíssima: dábitur enim illi fídei donum eléctum, et sors in templo Dei acceptíssima. Bonórum enim labórum gloriósus est fructus, et quæ non concídat radix sapiéntiæ. Fílii autem adulterórum in inconsummatióne erunt, et ab iníquo thoro semen exterminábitur. Et si quidem longæ vitæ erunt, in níhilum computabúntur, et sine honóre erit novíssima senéctus illórum: et si celérius defúncti fúerint, non habébunt spem, nec in die agnitiónis allocutiónem. Natiónis enim iníquæ diræ sunt consummatiónes. IIII. O quam pulchra est casta generátio, cum claritáte! immortális est enim memória illíus, quóniam et apud Deum nota est, et apud hómines. Cum præsens est, imitántur illam, et desíderant eam cum se edúxerit; et in perpétuum coronáta triúmphat, incoinquinatórum certáminum praemium vincens. Multigéna autem impiórum multitúdo non erit útilis, et spúria vitulámina non dabunt radíces altas, nec stábile firmaméntum collocábunt. Etsi in ramis in témpore germináverint, infírmiter pósita, a vento commovebúntur, et

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a nimietáte ventórum eradicabúntur. Confringéntur enim rami inconsummáti; et fructus illórum inútiles et acérbi ad manducándum, et ad níhilum apti. Ex iníquis enim somnis fílii qui nascúntur, testes sunt nequítiæ advérsus paréntes in interrogatióne sua. Justus autem si morte præoccupátus fúerit, in refrigério erit; senéctus enim venerábilis est non diutúrna, neque annórum número computáta: cani autem sunt sensus hóminis, et ætas senectútis vita immaculáta. Placens Deo factus est diléctus, et vivens inter peccatóres translátus est. Raptus est, ne malítia mutáret intelléctum ejus, aut ne fíctio decíperet ánimam illíus. Fascinátio enim nugacitátis obscúrat bona, et inconstántia concupiscéntiæ transvértit sensum sine malítia. Consummátus in brevi, explévit témpora multa; plácita enim erat Deo ánima illíus: propter hoc properávit edúcere illum de médio iniquitátum. Pópuli autem vidéntes, et non intelligéntes, nec ponéntes in præcórdiis tália, quóniam grátia Dei et misericórdia est in sanctos ejus, et respéctus in eléctos illíus. Condémnat autem justus mórtuus vivos ímpios, et juvéntus celérius consummáta longam vitam injústi. Vidébunt enim finem sapiéntis, et non intélligent quid cogitáverit de illo Deus, et quare muníerit illum Dóminus. Vidébunt, et contémnent eum; illos autem Dóminus irridébit. Et erunt post hæc decidéntes sine honóre, et in contumélia inter mórtuos in perpétuum: quóniam disrúmpet illos inflátos sine voce, et commovébit illos a fundaméntis, et usque ad suprémum desolabúntur, et erunt geméntes, et memória illórum períbit. Vénient in cogitatióne peccatórum suórum tímidi, et tradúcent illos ex advérso iniquitátes ipsórum. V. Tunc stabunt justi in magna constántia advérsus eos qui se angustiavérunt, et qui abstulérunt labóres eórum. Vidéntes turbabúntur timóre horríbili, et mirabúntur in subitatióne insperátæ salútis; dicéntes intra se, pœniténtiam agéntes, et præ angústia spíritus geméntes: Hi sunt

[Wisdom 3:4-5:3]

...their hope is full of immortality. 5 Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. 6 As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. 7 The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. 8 They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. 9 They that trust in him, shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace is to his elect. 10 But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord. 11 For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works unprofitable. 12 Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked. 13 Their offspring is cursed: for happy is the barren: and the undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin: she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls. 14 And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked things against God: for the precious gift of faith shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God. 15 For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom never faileth. 16 But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out. 17 And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their last old age shall be without honour. 18 And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of comfort in the day of trial. 19 For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race.

1 O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men. 2 When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it when it hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts. 3 But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation. 4 And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out. 5 For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing. 6 For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial. 7 But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. 8 For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. 9 And a spotless life is old age. 10 He pleased God and was beloved, and living among sinners he was translated. 11 He was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 12 For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. 13 Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time: 14 For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not, nor lay up such things in their hearts: 15 That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect to his chosen. 16 But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust. 17 For they shall see the end of the wise man, and shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety. 18 They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall laugh them to scorn. 19 And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall perish. 20 They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them.

1 Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours. 2 These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation. 3 Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they...

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quos habúimus aliquándo in derísum, et in similitúdinem impropérii. Nos insensáti, vitam illórum æstimabámus insániam, et finem illórum sine honóre; ecce quómodo computáti sunt inter fílios Dei, et inter sanctos sors illórum est. Ergo errávimus a via veritátis, et justítiæ lumen non luxit nobis, et sol intelligéntiæ non est ortus nobis. Lassáti sumus in via iniquitátis et perditiónis, et ambulávimus vias diffíciles: viam autem Dómini ignorávimus. Quid nobis prófuit supérbia? aut divitiárum jactántia quid cóntulit nobis? Transiérunt ómnia illa tamquam umbra, et tamquam núntius percúrrens, et tamquam navis quæ pertránsit fluctuántem aquam, cujus cum præteríerit non est vestígium inveníre, neque sémitam cárinæ illíus in flúctibus; aut tamquam avis quæ tránsvolat in áëre, cujus nullum invenítur arguméntum itíneris, sed tantum sónitus alárum vérberans levem ventum, et scindens per vim itíneris áërem: commótis alis transvolávit, et post hoc nullum signum invenítur itíneris illíus; aut tamquam sagítta emíssa in locum destinátum, divísus aër contínuo in se reclúsus est, ut ignorétur tránsitus illíus: sic et nos nati contínuo desívimus esse; et virtútis quidem nullum signum valúimus osténdere, in malignitáte autem nostra consúmpti sumus. Tália dixérunt in inférno hi qui peccavérunt: quóniam spes ímpii tamquam lánugo est quæ a vento tóllitur, et tamquam spuma grácilis quæ a procélla dispérgitur, et tamquam fumus qui a vento diffúsus est, et tamquam memória hóspitis uníus diéi prætereúntis. Justi autem in perpétuum vivent, et apud Dóminum est merces eórum, et cogitátio illórum apud Altíssimum. Ídeo accípient regnum decóris, et diadéma speciéi de manu Dómini: quóniam déxtera sua teget eos, et bráchio sancto suo deféndet illos. Accípiet armatúram zelus illíus, et armábit creatúram ad ultiónem inimicórum. Índuet pro thoráce justítiam, et accípiet pro gálea judícium certum; sumet scutum inexpugnábile æquitátem. Ácuet autem duram iram in lánceam, et pugnábit cum illo orbis terrárum contra insensátos. Ibunt dirécte emissiónes fúlgurum, et

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tamquam a bene curváto arcu núbium exterminabúntur, et ad certum locum insílient. Et a petrósa ira plenæ mitténtur grándines; excandéscet in illos aqua maris, et flúmina concúrrent dúriter. Contra illos stabit spíritus virtútis, et tamquam turbo venti dívidet illos; et ad erémum perdúcet omnem terram iníquitas illórum, et malígnitas evértet sedes poténtium. VI. Mélior est sapiéntia quam vires, et vir prudens quam fortis. Audíte ergo, reges, et intellígite; díscite, júdices fínium terræ. Præbéte aures, vos qui continétis multitúdines, et placétis vobis in turbis natiónum. Quóniam data est a Dómino potéstas vobis, et virtus ab Altíssimo: qui interrogábit ópera vestra, et cogitatiónes scrutábitur. Quóniam cum essétis minístri regni illíus, non recte judicástis, nec custodístis legem justítiæ, neque secúndum voluntátem Dei ambulástis. Horrénde et cito apparébit vobis, quóniam judícium duríssimum his qui præsunt fiet. Exíguo enim concéditur misericórdia; poténtes autem poténter torménta patiéntur. Non enim súbtrahet persónam cujúsquam Deus, nec verébitur magnitúdinem ejus cujúsquam, quóniam pusíllum et magnum ipse fecit, et æquáliter cura est illi de ómnibus. Fortióribus autem fórtior instat cruciátio. Ad vos ergo, reges, sunt hi sermónes mei: ut discátis sapiéntiam, et non excidátis. Qui enim custodíerint justa juste, justificabúntur; et qui didícerint ista, invénient quid respóndeant. Concupíscite ergo sermónes meos; dilígite illos, et habébitis disciplínam. Clara est, et quæ numquam marcéscit, sapiéntia: et fácile vidétur ab his qui díligunt eam, et invenítur ab his qui quærunt illam. Præóccupat qui se concupíscunt, ut illis se prior osténdat. Qui de luce vigiláverit ad illam non laborábit; assidéntem enim illam fóribus suis invéniet. Cogitáre ergo de illa sensus est consummátus, et qui vigiláverit propter illam cito secúrus erit. Quóniam dignos se ipsa círcuit quærens, et in viis osténdit se hiláriter, et in omni providéntia occúrrit illis. Inítium enim illíus veríssima est disciplínæ concupiscéntia. Cura ergo disciplínæ diléctio est, et diléctio custódia legum illíus est; custodítio autem legum consummátio incorruptiónis est; incorrúptio autem facit esse próximum Deo. Concupiscéntia

[Wisdom 5:3-6:21]

...whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach. 4 We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. 5 Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. 6 Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us. 7 We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known. 8 What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? 9 All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, 10 And as a ship that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters: 11 Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight; she moved her wings, and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way: 12 Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air presently cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known: 13 So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness. 14 Such things as these the sinners said in hell: 15 For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by. 16 But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High. 17 Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover them, and with his holy arm he will defend them. 18 And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for the revenge of his enemies. 19 He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true judgment instead of a helmet. 20 He will take equity for an invincible shield: 21 And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole world shall fight with him against the unwise. 22 Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the mark. 23 And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers shall run together in a terrible manner. 24 A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

1 Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man. 2 Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand: learn, ye that are judges of the ends of the earth. 3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations: 4 For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts: 5 Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God. 6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule. 7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented. 8 For God will not except man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all. 9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty. 10 To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it. 11 For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer. 12 Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction. 13 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her. 14 She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them. 15 He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door. 16 To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure. 17 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence. 18 For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline. 19 And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption: 20 And incorruption bringeth near to God. 21 Therefore the desire of wisdom...