Liber Ecclesiastes

Memento Creatoris tui in diebus juventutis tuæ, antequam veniat tempus afflictionis, et appropinquent anni de quibus dicas: Non mihi placent;

Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:

Mene de Creatore tuo in dies de iuventute tuo, antequam que veni tempore de afflictione, et appropinqua annos de que dic: non ad me place;

antequam tenebrescat sol, et lumen, et luna, et stellæ, et revertantur nubes post pluviam;

Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

Antequam tenebresce sole, et lumine, et luna, et stellas, et nube reverte post pluvia;

quando commovebuntur custodes domus, et nutabunt viri fortissimi, et otiosæ erunt molentes in minuto numero, et tenebrescent videntes per foramina;

When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:

Quando custodes domo commove, et nuta viros forti, et otiosa es mole in minue numero, et tenebresce vide per foramines;

et claudent ostia in platea, in humilitate vocis molentis, et consurgent ad vocem volucris, et obsurdescent omnes filiæ carminis:

And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.

Et claude ostios in platea, in humilitate de voce mole, et consurge ad voce de volucre, et omni filias de carmine obsurdesce:

excelsa quoque timebunt, et formidabunt in via. Florebit amygdalus, impinguabitur locusta, et dissipabitur capparis, quoniam ibit homo in domum æternitatis suæ, et circuibunt in platea plangentes.

And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.

Excelso etiam time, et formido in via. Amygdalo flore, locusto impingua, et capparo dissipa, quia homine i in domo de aeternitate suo, et circui in platea plange.

Antequam rumpatur funiculus argenteus, et recurrat vitta aurea, et conteratur hydria super fontem, et confringatur rota super cisternam,

Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,

Antequam funiculo argenteo rumpe, et vitta aurea recurre, et hydria super fonte contere, et rota confringe super cisterna,

et revertatur pulvis in terram suam unde erat, et spiritus redeat ad Deum, qui dedit illum.

And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

Et pulvo reverte in terra suo unde es, et spiritu reveni ad Deo, qui da illo.

Vanitas vanitatum, dixit Ecclesiastes, et omnia vanitas.

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

Vanitate de vanitates, dic Ecclesiaste, et omni vanitate.

Cumque esset sapientissimus Ecclesiastes, docuit populum, et enarravit quæ fecerat; et investigans composuit parabolas multas.

And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

Cumque es sapiens Ecclesiaste, doce populo, et enarra que fac; et investiga compone parabolas multo.

Quæsivit verba utilia, et conscripsit sermones rectissimos ac veritate plenos.

He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

Quaere verbos utile, et conscribe sermones rectus et veritate plena.

Verba sapientium sicut stimuli, et quasi clavi in altum defixi, quæ per magistrorum consilium data sunt a pastore uno.

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.

Verbas sapiens sicut stimulo, et quasi claves in altissimo defiviscor, que per magistros consilio da es ab pastore uno.

His amplius, fili mi, ne requiras. Faciendi plures libros nullus est finis; frequensque meditatio, carnis afflictio est.

More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

Ad hoc ample, filio meo, ne require. Fac plure libros nullo es fine; et frequente meditatione, de carne afflictione es.

Finem loquendi pariter omnes audiamus. Deum time, et mandata ejus observa: hoc est enim omnis homo,

Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

Omni audi pariter fine loque. Deo time, et mandatos de illo observa: hoc es nam omni homine,

et cuncta quæ fiunt adducet Deus in judicium pro omni errato, sive bonum, sive malum illud sit.

And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.

Et Deo adduce cuncta que fi in iudicio pro omni errato, sive bono, sive malo illo es.