DENISON

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turbavérunt hæc præmonébant, ne ínscii quare mala patiebántur perírent. Tétigit autem tunc et justos tentátio mortis, et commótio in erémo facta est multitúdinis: sed non diu permánsit ira tua. Prósperans enim homo sine queréla deprecári pro pópulis, próferens servitútis suæ scutum, oratiónem et per incénsum deprecatiónem állegans, réstitit iræ, et finem impósuit necessitáti, osténdens quóniam tuus est fámulus. Vicit autem turbas non in virtúte córporis, nec armatúræ poténtia: sed verbo illum qui se vexábat subjécit, juraménta paréntum et testaméntum commemórans. Cum enim jam acervátim cecidíssent super altérutrum mórtui, intérstitit, et amputávit ímpetum, et divísit illam quæ ad vivos ducébat viam. In veste enim póderis quam habébat, totus erat orbis terrárum; et paréntum magnália in quátuor ordínibus lápidum erant sculpta, et magnificéntia tua in diadémate cápitis illíus sculpta erat. His autem cessit qui exterminábat, et hæc extímuit: erat enim sola tentátio iræ suffíciens. XIX. Ímpiis autem usque in novíssimum sine misericórdia ira supervénit. Præsciébat enim et futúra illórum: quóniam cum ipsi permisíssent ut se edúcerent, et cum magna sollicitúdine præmisíssent illos, consequebántur illos, pœniténtia acti. Adhuc enim inter manus habéntes luctum, et deplorántes ad monuménta mortuórum, áliam sibi assumpsérunt cogitatiónem insciéntiæ, et quos rogántes projécerant, hos tamquam fugitívos persequebántur. Ducébat enim illos ad hunc finem digna necéssitas; et horum quæ accíderant commemoratiónem amittébant, ut quæ déerant torméntis repléret punítio: et pópulus quidem tuus mirabíliter transíret, illi autem novam mortem invenírent. Omnis enim creatúra ad suum genus ab inítio refigurabátur, desérviens tuis præcéptis, ut púeri tui custodiréntur illaesi. Nam nubes castra eórum obumbrábat, et ex aqua quæ ante erat, terra árida appáruit, et in mari Rubro via sine impediménto, et campus gérminans de profúndo nímio: per quem omnis nátio transívit quæ tegebátur tua manu, vidéntes tua mirabília et monstra. Tamquam enim equi depavérunt escam, et tamquam agni exsultavérunt, magnificántes te, Dómine, qui liberásti illos. Mémores enim erant adhuc eórum quæ in incolátu illórum facta fúerant: quemádmodum pro natióne animálium edúxit terra muscas, et pro píscibus eructávit flúvius multitúdinem ranárum. Novíssime autem vidérunt novam creatúram ávium, cum, addúcti concupiscéntia, postulavérunt escas epulatiónis. In allocutióne enim desidérii ascéndit illis de mari ortygómetra: et vexatiónes peccatóribus supervenérunt, non sine illis quæ ante facta erant arguméntis per vim fúlminum: juste enim patiebántur secúndum suas nequítias. Étenim detestabiliórem inhospitalitátem instituérunt: álii quidem ignótos non recipiébant ádvenas; álii autem bonos hóspites in servitútem redigébant. Et non solum hæc, sed et álius quidam respéctus illórum erat, quóniam ínviti recipiébant extráneos. Qui autem cum lætítia recepérunt hos qui eísdem usi erant justítiis, sævíssimis afflixérunt dolóribus. Percússi sunt autem cæcitáte: sicut illi in fóribus justi, cum subitáneis coopérti essent ténebris, unusquísque tránsitum óstii sui quærébat. In se enim eleménta dum convertúntur, sicut in órgano qualitátis sonus immutátur, et ómnia suum sonum custódiunt: unde æstimári ex ipso visu certo potest. Agréstia enim in aquática convertebántur, et quæcúmque erant natántia, in terram transíbant. Ignis in aqua valébat supra suam virtútem, et aqua extinguéntis natúræ obliviscebátur. Flammæ e contrário corruptibílium animáliumnon vexavérunt carnes coambulántium, nec dissolvébant illam, quæ fácile dissolvebátur sicut glácies, bonam escam.

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In ómnibus enim magnificásti pópulum tuum, Dómine, et honorásti, et non despexísti, in omni témpore et in omni loco assístens eis.

[5 lines of prologue untranscribed.]

Incipit liber Baruch.

Hec verba libri quæ scripsit Baruch fílius Nériæ, fílii Maásiæ, fílii Sedéciæ, fílii Sédei, fílii Helcíæ, in Babylónia, in anno quinto, in séptimo die mensis, in témpore quo cepérunt Chaldaei Jerúsalem, et succendérunt eam igni. Et legit Baruch verba libri hujus ad aures Jechoníæ fílii Jóakim regis Juda, et ad aures univérsi pópuli veniéntis ad librum, et ad aures poténtium, filiórum regum, et ad aures presbyterórum, et ad aures pópuli, a mínimo usque ad máximum eórum, ómnium habitántium in Babylónia, ad flumen Sodi. Qui audiéntes plorábant, et jejunábant, et orábant in conspéctu Dómini. Et collegérunt pecúniam, secúndum quod pótuit uniuscujúsque manus, et misérunt in Jerúsalem ad Jóakim fílium Helcíæ fílii Salom sacerdótem, et ad sacerdótes, et ad omnem pópulum qui invénti sunt cum eo in Jerúsalem: cum accíperet vasa templi Dómini, quæ abláta fúerant de templo, revocáre in terram Juda, décima die mensis Sivan, vasa argéntea quæ fecit Sedécias fílius Josíæ rex Juda, posteáquam cepísset Nabuchodonósor rex Babylónis Jechoníam, et príncipes, et cunctos poténtes, et pópulum terræ, ab Jerúsalem, et duxit eos vinctos in Babylónem. Et dixérunt: Ecce mísimus ad vos pecúnias, de quibus émite holocautomáta et thus: et fácite manna, et offérte pro peccáto, ad aram Dómini Dei nostri: et oráte pro vita Nabuchodonósor regis Babylónis, et pro vita Baltássar fílii ejus, ut sint dies eórum sicut dies cæli super terram: et ut det Dóminus virtútem nobis, et illúminet óculos nostros, ut vivámus sub umbra Nabuchodonósor regis Babylónis, et sub umbra Baltássar fílii ejus, et serviámus eis multis diébus, et inveniámus grátiam in conspéctu eórum. Et pro nobis ipsis oráte ad Dóminum Deum nostrum, quia peccávimus Dómino Deo nostro, et non est avérsus furor ejus a nobis usque in hunc diem. Et légite librum istum quem mísimus ad vos recitári in templo Dómini, in die solémni et in die opportúno: et dicétis: Dómino Deo nostro justítia, nobis autem confúsio faciéi nostræ, sicut est dies hæc omni Juda, et habitántibus in Jerúsalem: régibus nostris, et princípibus nostris, et sacerdótibus nostris, et prophétis nostris, et pátribus nostris. Peccávimus ante Dóminum Deum nostrum, et non credídimus, diffidéntes in eum: et non fúimus subjectíbiles illi, et non audívimus vocem Dómini Dei nostri, ut ambularémus in mandátis ejus, quæ dedit nobis. A die qua edúxit patres nostros de terra Ægýpti, usque ad diem hanc, erámus incredíbiles ad Dóminum Deum nostrum: et dissipáti recéssimus, ne audirémus vocem ipsíus: et adhæsérunt nobis multa mala et maledictiónes quæ constítuit Dóminus Móysi servo suo, qui edúxit patres nostros de terra Ægýpti, dare nobis terram fluéntem lac et mel, sicut hodiérna die. Et non audívimus vocem Dómini Dei nostri, secúndum ómnia

[Wisdom 18:19-19:21]

...that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest they should perish and not know why they suffered these evils. 20 But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy wrath did not long continue. 21 For a blameless man made haste to pray for the people, bringing forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, shewing that he was thy servant. 22 And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, alleging the oaths and covenant made with the fathers. 23 For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to the living. 24 For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and in the four rows of the stones the glory of the fathers was graven, and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head. 25 And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for the proof only of wrath was enough.

1 But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do: 2 For when they had given them leave to depart, and had sent them away with great care, they repented, and pursued after them. 3 For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of the dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as fugitives whom they had pressed to be gone: 4 For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this end: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened, that their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments: 5 And that thy people might wonderfully pass through, but they might find a new death. 6 For every creature according to its kind was fashioned again as from the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might be kept without hurt. 7 For a cloud overshadowed their camp, and where water was before, dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hinderance, and out of the great deep a springing field: 8 Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy hand, seeing thy miracles and wonders. 9 For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them. 10 For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes. 11 And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led by their appetite they asked for delicate meats. 12 For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness. 13 For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any: others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them. 14 And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: for the others against their will received the strangers. 15 But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with joy, and who lived under the same laws. 16 But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and every one sought the passage of his own door. 17 For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight. 18 For the things of the land were turned into things of the water: and the things before swam in the water passed upon the land. 19 The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water forgot its quenching nature. 20 On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of corruptible animals walking therein, neither did they melt that good food, which was apt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst magnify thy people, O Lord, and didst honour them, and didst not despise them, but didst assist them at all times, and in every place.

[5 lines of prologue untranscribed]

[Baruch 1:1-1:21]

Here begins the book of Baruch.

1 And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Sedei, the son of Helcias, wrote in Babylonia. 2 In the fifth year, in the seventh day of the month, at the time that the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire. 3 And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joakim king of Juda, and in the hearing of all the people that came to hear the book. 4 And in the hearing of the nobles, the sons of the kings, and in the hearing of the ancients, and in the hearing of the people, from the least even to the greatest of them that dwelt in Babylonia, by the river Sedi. 5 And when they heard it they wept, and fasted, and prayed before the Lord. 6 And they made a collection of money, according to every man's power. 7 And they sent it to Jerusulem to Joakim the priest, the son of Helcias, the son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people, that were found with him in Jerusalem: 8 At the time when he received the vessels of the temple of the Lord, which had been taken away out of the temple, to return them into the land of Juda the tenth day of the month Sivan, the silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Juda had made, 9 After that Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and all the powerful men, and the people of the land from Jerusalem, and brought them bound to Babylon. 10 And they said: Behold we have sent you money, buy with it holocausts, and frankincense, and make meat offerings, and offerings for sin at the altar of the Lord our God: 11 And pray ye for the life of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven: 12 And that the Lord may give us strength, and enlighten our eyes, that we may live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and may serve them many days, and may find favour in their sight. 13 And pray ye for us to the Lord our God: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, and his wrath is not turned away from us even to this day. 14 And read ye this book, which we have sent to you to be read in the temple of the Lord, on feasts, and proper days. 15 And you shall say: To the Lord our God belongeth justice, but to us confusion of our face: as it is come to pass at this day to all Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 16 To our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers. 17 We have sinned before the Lord our God, and have not believed him, nor put our trust in him: 18 And we were not obedient to him, and we have not harkened to the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his commandments, which he hath given us. 19 From the day that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, we were disobedient to the Lord our God: and going astray we turned away from hearing his voice. 20 And many evils have cleaved to us, and the curses which the Lord foretold by Moses his servant: who brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. 21 And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God according to all...

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verba prophetárum quos misit ad nos: et abívimus unusquísque in sensum cordis nostri malígni, operári diis aliénis, faciéntes mala ante óculos Dómini Dei nostri. II. Propter quod státuit Dóminus Deus noster verbum suum, quod locútus est ad nos, et ad júdices nostros qui judicavérunt Israël, et ad reges nostros, et ad príncipes nostros, et ad omnem Israël et Juda: ut addúceret Dóminus super nos mala magna, quæ non sunt facta sub cælo quemádmodum facta sunt in Jerúsalem, secúndum quæ scripta sunt in lege Móysi, et manducáret homo carnes fílii sui et carnes fíliæ suæ. Et dedit eos sub manu regum ómnium qui sunt in circúitu nostro, in impropérium et in desolatiónem in ómnibus pópulis in quibus nos dispérsit Dóminus: et facti sumus subtus, et non supra, quia peccávimus Dómino Deo nostro, non obaudiéndo voci ipsíus. Dómino Deo nostro justítia, nobis autem et pátribus nostris confúsio faciéi, sicut est dies hæc: quia locútus est Dóminus super nos ómnia mala hæc quæ venérunt super nos: et non sumus deprecáti fáciem Dómini Dei nostri, ut reverterémur unusquísque nostrum a viis nostris péssimis. Et vigilávit Dóminus in malis, et addúxit ea super nos: quia justus est Dóminus in ómnibus opéribus suis quæ mandávit nobis, et non audívimus vocem ipsíus ut irémus in præcéptis Dómini, quæ dedit ante fáciem nostram. Et nunc, Dómine Deus Israël, qui eduxísti pópulum tuum de terra Ægýpti in manu válida, et in signis, et in prodígiis, et in virtúte tua magna, et in bráchio excélso, et fecísti tibi nomen sicut est dies iste: peccávimus, ímpie égimus, iníque géssimus, Dómine Deus noster, in ómnibus justítiis tuis. Avertátur ira tua a nobis, quia derelícti sumus pauci inter gentes ubi dispersísti nos. Exáudi, Dómine, preces nostras et oratiónes nostras, et educ nos propter te, et da nobis inveníre grátiam ante fáciem eórum qui nos abduxérunt: ut sciat omnis terra quia tu es Dóminus Deus noster, et quia nomen tuum invocátum est super Israël, et super genus ipsíus. Réspice, Dómine, de domo sancta tua in nos, et inclína aurem tuam, et exáudi nos. Áperi óculos tuos et vide: quia non mórtui qui sunt in inférno, quorum spíritus accéptus est a viscéribus suis, dabunt honórem et justificatiónem Dómino: sed ánima quæ tristis est super magnitúdine mali, et incédit curva et infírma, et óculi deficiéntes, et ánima esúriens, dat tibi glóriam et justítiam Dómino. Quia non secúndum justítias patrum nostrórum nos fúndimus preces et pétimus misericórdiam ante conspéctum tuum, Dómine Deus noster: sed quia misísti iram tuam et furórem tuum super nos, sicut locútus es in manu puerórum tuórum prophetárum, dicens: Sic dicit Dóminus: Inclináte húmerum vestrum et cervícem vestram, et ópera fácite regi Babylónis, et sedébitis in terra quam dedi pátribus vestris. Quod si non audiéritis vocem Dómini Dei vestri, operári regi Babylóniæ, defectiónem vestram fáciam de civitátibus Juda, et a foris Jerúsalem, et áuferam a vobis vocem jucunditátis et vocem gáudii, et vocem sponsi et vocem sponsæ, et erit omnis terra sine vestígio ab inhabitántibus eam. Et non audiérunt vocem tuam, ut operaréntur regi Babylónis: et statuísti verba tua, quæ locútus es in mánibus puerórum tuórum prophetárum, ut transferréntur ossa regum nostrórum et ossa patrum nostrórum de loco suo: et ecce projécta sunt in calóre solis et in gelu noctis, et mórtui sunt in dolóribus péssimis, in fame et in gládio, et in emissióne. Et posuísti templum in quo invocátum est nomen tuum in ipso sicut hæc dies, propter iniquitátem domus Israël et domus Juda. Et fecísti in nobis, Dómine Deus noster, secúndum omnem bonitátem tuam et secúndum omnem miseratiónem tuam illam magnam: sicut locútus es in manu púeri tui Móysi, in die qua præcepísti ei scríbere legem tuam coram fíliis Israël, dicens: Si non audiéritis vocem meam, multitúdo hæc magna convertétur in mínimam inter gentes, quo ego eos dispérgam: quia scio quod me non áudiet pópulus: pópulus est enim dura cervíce. Et convertétur ad cor suum in terra captivitátis suæ, et scient quia ego sum Dóminus Deus eórum: et dabo eis cor, et intélligent; aures, et áudient: et laudábunt me in terra captivitátis suæ, et mémores erunt nóminis mei, et avértent se a dorso suo duro, et a malignitátibus suis: quia reminiscéntur viam patrum suórum, qui peccavérunt in me. Et revocábo illos in terram quam jurávi pátribus eórum, Ábraham, Ísaac, et Jacob: et dominabúntur ejus, et multiplicábo eos, et non minorabúntur: et státuam illis testaméntum álterum sempitérnum, ut sim illis in Deum, et ipsi erunt mihi in pópulum: et non movébo ámplius pópulum meum, fílios Israël, a terra quam dedi illis. III. Et nunc, Dómine omnípotens, Deus Israël, ánima in angústiis, et spíritus ánxius clamat ad te. Audi, Dómine, et miserére, quia Deus es miséricors: et miserére nostri, quia peccávimus ante te: quia tu sedes in sempitérnum, et nos, períbimus in ævum? Dómine omnípotens, Deus Israël, audi nunc oratiónem mortuórum Israël, et filiórum ipsórum qui pecca-

[column B]

-vérunt ante te, et non audiérunt vocem Dómini Dei sui, et agglutináta sunt nobis mala. Noli meminísse iniquitátum patrum nostrórum, sed meménto manus tuæ et nóminis tui in témpore isto: quia tu es Dóminus Deus noster, et laudábimus te, Dómine: quia propter hoc dedísti timórem tuum in córdibus nostris, et ut invocémus nomen tuum, et laudémus te in captivitáte nostra, quia convértimur ab iniquitáte patrum nostrórum, qui peccavérunt ante te. Et ecce nos in captivitáte nostra sumus hódie, qua nos dispersísti in impropérium, et in maledíctum, et in peccátum, secúndum omnes iniquitátes patrum nostrórum, qui recessérunt a te, Dómine Deus noster. Audi, Israël, mandáta vitæ: áuribus pércipe, ut scias prudéntiam. Quid est, Israël, quod in terra inimicórum es, inveterásti in terra aliéna, coinquinátus es cum mórtuis, deputátus es cum descendéntibus in inférnum? Dereliquísti fontem sapiéntiæ: nam si in via Dei ambulásses, habitásses útique in pace sempitérna. Disce ubi sit prudéntia, ubi sit virtus, ubi sit intelléctus, ut scias simul ubi sit longitúrnitas vitæ et victus, ubi sit lumen oculórum, et pax. Quis invénit locum ejus? et quis intrávit in thesáuros ejus? Ubi sunt príncipes géntium, et qui dominántur super béstias quæ sunt super terram? qui in ávibus cæli ludunt, qui argéntum thesaurízant, et aurum, in quo confídunt hómines, et non est finis acquisitiónis eórum? qui argéntum fábricant, et sollíciti sunt, nec est invéntio óperum illórum? Extermináti sunt, et ad ínferos descendérunt, et álii loco eórum surrexérunt. Júvenes vidérunt lumen, et habitavérunt super terram, viam autem disciplínæ ignoravérunt, neque intellexérunt sémitas ejus, neque fílii eórum suscepérunt eam: a fácie ipsórum longe facta est; non est audíta in terra Chánaan, neque visa est in Theman. Fílii quoque Agar, qui exquírunt prudéntiam quæ de terra est, negotiatóres Merrhæ et Theman, et fabulatóres, et exquisitóres prudéntiæ et intelligéntiæ: viam autem sapiéntiæ nesciérunt, neque commemoráti sunt sémitas ejus. O Israël, quam magna est domus Dei, et ingens locus possessiónis ejus! magnus est, et non habet finem: excélsus, et imménsus. Ibi fuérunt gigántes nomináti illi, qui ab inítio fuérunt, statúra magna, sciéntes bellum. Non hos elégit Dóminus, neque viam disciplínæ invenérunt: proptérea periérunt, et quóniam non habuérunt sapiéntiam, interiérunt propter suam insipiéntiam. Quis ascéndit in cælum, et accépit eam, et edúxit eam de núbibus? Quis transfretávit mare, et invénit illam, et áttulit illam super aurum eléctum? Non est qui possit scire vias ejus, neque qui exquírat sémitas ejus: sed qui scit univérsa novit eam, et adinvénit eam prudéntia sua qui præparávit terram in ætérno témpore: et replévit eam pecúdibus et quadrupédibus qui emíttit lumen, et vadit, et vocávit illud, et obédit illi in tremóre. Stellæ autem dedérunt lumen in custódiis suis, et lætátæ sunt: vocátæ sunt, et dixérunt: Ádsumus, et luxérunt ei cum jucunditáte, qui fecit illas. Hic est Deus noster, et non æstimábitur álius advérsus eum. Hic adinvénit omnem viam disciplínæ, et trádidit illam Jacob púero suo, et Israël dilécto suo. Post hæc in terris visus est, et cum homínibus conversátus est. IIII. Hic liber mandatórum Dei, et lex quæ est in ætérnum: omnes qui tenent eam pervénient ad vitam: qui autem dereliquérunt eam, in mortem. Convértere, Jacob, et apprehénde eam: ámbula per viam ad splendórem ejus contra lumen ejus. Ne tradas álteri glóriam tuam, et dignitátem tuam genti aliénæ. Beáti sumus, Israël, quia quæ Deo placent manifésta sunt nobis. Animaequior esto, pópulus Dei, memorábilis Israël: venundáti estis géntibus non in perditiónem: sed propter quod in ira ad iracúndiam provocástis Deum, tráditi estis adversáriis. Exacerbástis enim eum qui fecit vos, Deum ætérnum, immolántes dæmóniis, et non Deo. Oblíti enim estis Deum qui nutrívit vos, et contristástis nutrícem vestram Jerúsalem. Vidit enim iracúndiam a Deo veniéntem vobis, et dixit: Audíte, cónfines Sion: addúxit enim mihi Deus luctum magnum. Vidi enim captivitátem pópuli mei, filiórum meórum et filiárum, quam superdúxit illis Ætérnus. Nutrívi enim illos cum jucunditáte; dimísi autem illos cum fletu et luctu. Nemo gáudeat super me víduam et desolátam: a multis derelícta sum propter peccáta filiórum meórum, quia declinavérunt a lege Dei. Justítias autem ipsíus nesciérunt, nec ambulavérunt per vias mandatórum Dei, neque per sémitas veritátis ejus cum justítia ingréssi sunt. Véniant cónfines Sion, et memoréntur captivitátem filiórum et filiárum meárum, quam superdúxit illis Ætérnus. Addúxit enim super illos gentem de longínquo, gentem impróbam, et altérius linguæ, qui non sunt revériti senem, neque puerórum misérti sunt, et abduxérunt diléctos víduæ, et a fíliis únicam desolavérunt. Ego autem, quid possum adjuváre vos? qui enim addúxit super vos mala, ipse vos

[Baruch 1:21-4:18]

...of the Lord our God according to all the words of the prophets whom he sent to us: 22 And we have gone away every man after the inclinations of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.

1 Wherefore the Lord our God hath made good his word, that he spoke to us, and to our judges that have judged Israel, and to our kings, and to our princes, and to all Israel and Juda: 2 That the Lord would bring upon us great evils, such as never happened under heaven, as they have come to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that are written in the law of Moses: 3 That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of his own daughter. 4 And he hath delivered them up to be under the hand of all the kings that are round about us, to be a reproach, and desolation among all the people, among whom the Lord hath scattered us. 5 And we are brought under, and are not uppermost: because we have sinned against the Lord our God, by not obeying his voice. 6 To the Lord our God belongeth justice: but to us, and to our fathers confusion of face, as at this day. 7 For the Lord hath pronounced against us all these evils that are come upon us: 8 And we have not entreated the face of the Lord our God, that we might return every one of us from our most wicked ways. 9 And the Lord hath watched over us for evil, and hath brought it upon us: for the Lord is just in all his works which he hath commanded us: 10 And we have not hearkened to his voice to walk in the commandments of the Lord which he hath set before us 11 And now, O Lord God of Israel, who hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and with signs, and with wonders, and with thy great power, and with a mighty arm, and hast made thee a name as at this day, 12 We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have acted unjustly, O Lord our God, against all thy justices. 13 Let thy wrath be turned away from us: for we are left a few among the nations where thou hast scattered us. 14 Hear, O Lord, our prayers, and our petitions, and deliver us for thy own sake: and grant that we may find favour in the sight of them that have led us away: 15 That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, and that thy name is called upon Israel, and upon his posterity. 16 Look down upon us, O Lord, from thy holy house, and incline thy ear, and hear us. 17 Open thy eyes, and behold: for the dead that are in hell, whose spirit is taken away from their bowels, shall not give glory and justice to the Lord: 18 But the soul that is sorrowful for the greatness of evil she hath done, and goeth bowed down, and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul giveth glory and justice to thee the Lord. 19 For it is not for the justices of our fathers that we pour out our prayers, and beg mercy in thy sight, O Lord our God: 20 But because thou hast sent out thy wrath, and thy indignation upon us, as thou hast spoken by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying: 21 Thus saith the Lord: Bow down your shoulder, and your neck, and serve the king of Babylon: and you shall remain in the land which I have given to your fathers. 22 But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to serve the king of Babylon: I will cause you to depart out of the cities of Juda, and from without Jerusalem. 23 And I will take away from you the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, and the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, and all the land shall be without any footstep of inhabitants. 24 And they hearkened not to thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon: and thou hast made good thy words, which thou spokest by the hands of thy servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers should be removed out of their place: 25 And behold they are cast out to the heat of the sun, and to the frost of the night: and they have died in grievous pains, by famine, and by the sword, and in banishment. 26 And thou hast made the temple, in which thy name was called upon, as it is at this day, for the iniquity of the house of Israel, and the house of Juda. 27 And thou hast dealt with us, O Lord our God, according to all thy goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine: 28 As thou spokest by the hand of thy servant Moses, in the day when thou didst command him to write thy law before the children of Israel, 29 Saying: If you will not hear my voice, this great multitude shall be turned into a very small number among the nations, where I will scatter them: 30 For I know that the people will not hear me, for they are a people of a stiff neck: but they shall turn to their heart in the land of their captivity: 31 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God: and I will give them a heart, and they shall understand: and ears, and they shall hear. 32 And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and shall be mindful of my name. 33 And they shall turn away themselves from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, that sinned against me. 34 And I will bring them back again into the land which I promised with an oath to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be masters thereof: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished. 35 And I will make with them another covenant that shall be everlasting, to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more remove my people, the children of Israel, out of the land that I have given them.

1 And now, O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, the soul in anguish, and the troubled spirit crieth to thee: 2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for thou art a merciful God, and have pity on us: for we have sinned before thee. 3 For thou remainest for ever, and shall we perish everlastingly? 4 O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel, and of their children, that have sinned before thee, and have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, wherefore evils have cleaved fast to us. 5 Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but think upon thy hand, and upon thy name at this time: 6 For thou art the Lord our God, and we will praise thee, O Lord: 7 Because for this end thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity, for we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, who sinned before thee. 8 And behold we are at this day in our captivity, whereby thou hast scattered us to be a reproach, and a curse, and an offence, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, who departed from thee, O Lord our God. 9 Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: give ear, that thou mayst learn wisdom. 10 How happeneth it, O Israel, that thou art in thy enemies' land? 11 Thou art grown old in a strange country, thou art defiled with the dead: thou art counted with them that go down into hell. 12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom: 13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou hadst surely dwelt in peace for ever. 14 Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding: that thou mayst know also where is length of days and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace. 15 Who hath found out her place? and who hath gone in to her treasures? 16 Where are the princes of the nations, and they that rule over the beasts that are upon the earth? 17 That take their diversion with the birds of the air. 18 That hoard up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and there is no end of their getting? who work in silver and are solicitous, and their works are unsearchable. 19 They are cut off, and are gone down to hell, and others are risen up in their place. 20 Young men have seen the light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge they have not known, 21 Nor have they understood the paths thereof, neither have their children received it, it is far from their face. 22 It hath not been heard of in the land of Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman. 23 The children of Agar also, that search after the wisdom that is of the earth, the merchants of Merrha, and of Theman, and the tellers of fables, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered her paths. 24 O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the place of his possession! 25 It is great, and hath no end: it is high and immense. 26 There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the beginning, of great stature, expert in war. 27 The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of knowledge: therefore did they perish. 28 And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their folly. 29 Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds? 30 Who hath passed over the sea, and found her, and brought her preferably to chosen gold? 31 There is none that is able to know her ways, nor that can search out her paths: 32 But he that knoweth all things, knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore, and filled it with cattle and fourfooted beasts: 33 He that sendeth forth light, and it goeth: and hath called it, and it obeyeth him with trembling. 34 And the stars have given light in their watches, and rejoiced: 35 They were called, and they said: Here we are: and with cheerfuIness they have shined forth to him that made them. 36 This is our God, and there shall no other be accounted of in comparison of him. 37 He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved. 38 Afterwards he was seen upon earth, and conversed with men.

1 This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law, that is for ever: all they that keep it, shall come to life: but they that have forsaken it, to death. 2 Return, O Jacob, and take hold of it, walk in the way by its brightness, in the presence of the light thereof. 3 Give not thy honour to another, nor thy dignity to a strange nation. 4 We are happy, O Israel: because the things that are pleasing to God, are made known to us. 5 Be of good comfort, O people of God, the memorial of Israel: 6 You have been sold to the Gentiles, not for your destruction: but because you provoked God to wrath, you are delivered to your adversaries. 7 For you have provoked him who made you, the eternal God, offering sacrifice to devils, and not to God. 8 For you have forgotten God, who brought you up, and you have grieved Jerusalem that nursed you. 9 For she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, and she said: Give ear, all you that dwell near Sion, for God hath brought upon me great mourning: 10 For I have seen the captivity of my people, of my sons, and my daughters, which the Eternal hath brought upon them. 11 For I nourished them with joy: but I sent them away with weeping and mourning. 12 Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and desolate: I am forsaken of many for the sins of my children, because they departed from the law of God. 13 And they have not known his justices, nor walked by the ways of God's commandments, neither have they entered by the paths of his truth and justice. 14 Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal hath brought upon them. 15 For he hath brought a nation upon them from afar, a wicked nation, and of a strange tongue: 16 Who have neither reverenced the ancient, nor pitied children, and have carried away the beloved of the widow, and have left me all alone without children. 17 But as for me, what help can I give you? 18 But he that hath brought the evils upon you...