Liber Ecclesiasticus

In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quæ sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus:

With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:

In tre place es ad spiritu meo, que es proba coram Deo et homines:

concordia fratrum, et amor proximorum, et vir et mulier bene sibi consentientes.

The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together.

Concordia de fratres, et amore proximo, et viro et muliere bene ad se consentie.

Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animæ illorum:

Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:

Tre specie ode anima meo, et aggrava valde anima de illos:

pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.

A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.

Paupere superbo, divite mendace, sene fatuo et insensor.

Quæ in juventute tua non congregasti, quomodo in senectute tua invenies?

The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?

Que in iuventute tuo non congrega, quomodo in senectute tuo inveni?

Quam speciosum canitiei judicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium!

O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!

Quam specioso de canitieo iudicio, et ad presbyteros cognosce consilio!

Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosus intellectus et consilium!

O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!

Quam specioso veterano sapientia, et glorioso intellectu et consilio!

Corona senum multa peritia, et gloria illorum timor Dei.

Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.

Corona de senes multo peritia, et gloria de illos timore de Deo.

Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi: et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus:

Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.

Noveme insuspicabile de corde magnifica: et decimo dic in lingua homines:

homo qui jucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum.

A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.

Homine qui iucunda in filios, vivente et vidente subversione de inimicos suo.

Beatus qui habitat cum muliere sensata, et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indignis se.

Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.

Beato qui habita cum muliere sensa, et qui lingua suo non es lapda, et qui non servi ad indigno se.

Beatus qui invenit amicum verum, et qui enarrat justitiam auri audienti.

Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.

Beato qui inveni amico verum, et qui enarra iustitia de auro audi.

Quam magnus qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam! sed non est super timentem Dominum.

How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.

Quam magna qui inveni sapientia et scientia! Sed non es super time Domino.

Timor Dei super omnia se superposuit.

The fear of God hath set itself above all things:

Timore de Deo super omni superpone se.

Beatus homo cui donatum est habere timorem Dei: qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur?

Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?

Beato homine ad que dona es habere timore de Deo: qui tene illo, ad que assimula?

Timor Dei initium dilectionis ejus: fidei autem initium agglutinandum est ei.

The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.

Timore de Deo initio de dilectione de illo: de fide autem initio agglutina es ad illo.

Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.

The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.

Omni plaga tristitia de corde es, et omni malitia nequitia de muliere.

Et omnem plagam, et non plagam videbit cordis:

And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:

Et omni plaga, et non plaga vide de corde:

et omnem nequitiam, et non nequitiam mulieris:

And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:

Et omni nequitia, et non nequitia de muliere:

et omnem obductum, et non obductum odientium:

And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:

Et omni obduce, et non obduce odie:

et omnem vindictam, et non vindictam inimicorum.

And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.

Et omni vindicta, et non vindicta de inimicos.

Non est caput nequius super caput colubri,

There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:

Non es capite nequissimo super capite de colube,

et non est ira super iram mulieris. Commorari leoni et draconi placebit, quam habitare cum muliere nequam.

And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.

Et non ira es super ira de muliere. Ad commorario ad leone et ad dracone place, quam habita cum muliere nequissimo.

Nequitia mulieris immutat faciem ejus: et obcæcat vultum suum tamquam ursus, et quasi saccum ostendit. In medio proximorum ejus

The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours,

Nequitia de muliere immuta facie de illo: et obcaeca vultu suo sicut urso, et quasi sacco ostende. In medio de proximos de illo

ingemuit vir ejus, et audiens suspiravit modicum.

Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.

Viro de illo ingeme, et audiente suspira modico.

Brevis omnis malitia super malitiam mulieris: sors peccatorum cadat super illam.

All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.

Brevi omni malitia super malitia de muliere: sorte de peccatos cade super illa.

Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.

As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.

Sicut ascensu arenoso in pedes veterano, sic muliere lingua ad homine quieto.

Ne respicias in mulieris speciem, et non concupiscas mulierem in specie.

Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.

Ne respice in muliere specie, et non concupisce muliere in specie.

Mulieris ira, et irreverentia, et confusio magna.

A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.

Multo ira, et irreverenti, et confusione magna.

Mulier si primatum habeat, contraria est viro suo.

A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.

Muliere si primatu que habe, contrario es ad viro suo.

Cor humile, et facies tristis, et plaga cordis, mulier nequam.

A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.

Corde humili, et fac triste, et plaga de corde, muliere nequissimo.

Manus debiles et genua dissoluta, mulier quæ non beatificat virum suum.

Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.

Manus debile et genus dissolve, muliere que non beatificor viro suo.

A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.

From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.

Ab muliere initio facto es de peccato, et per illa omni more.

Non des aquæ tuæ exitum, nec modicum: nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.

Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.

Non da de aqua tuo exitu, nec modico: nec ad muliere nequissimo veni prode.

Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum.

If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.

Si non ambula ad manu tuo, confunde te in conspectu de inimicos.

A carnibus tuis abscinde illam, ne semper te abutatur.

Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.

Ab carnes tuo abscinde illa, ne semper te abute.