Liber Ecclesiasticus

Altitudinis firmamentum pulchritudo ejus est, species cæli in visione gloriæ.

The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.

De altitudine firmamento pulchritudine de illo es, specie de caelo in visione de gloria.

Sol in aspectu annuntians in exitu, vas admirabile, opus Excelsi.

The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High.

Sole in aspectu annuntia in exitu, vase admirabile, opere de Excelso.

In meridiano exurit terram, et in conspectu ardoris ejus quis poterit sustinere? fornacem custodiens in operibus ardoris:

At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:

In meridiano exure terra, et in conspectu de ardore de illo qui pote sustine? Fornace custodi in operes de ardore:

tripliciter sol exurens montes, radios igneos exsufflans, et refulgens radiis suis obcæcat oculos.

The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes.

Tripliciter sole ex(s)ura montes, rades igneo exsuffla, et refulge radios suo obcaeca oculos.

Magnus Dominus qui fecit illum, et in sermonibus ejus festinavit iter.

Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.

Magna Domino qui fac illo, et in sermones de illo festina itinere.

Et luna in omnibus in tempore suo, ostensio temporis, et signum ævi.

And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.

Et luna in omni in tempore suo, ostensione de tempore, et signo de aevo.

A luna signum diei festi: luminare quod minuitur in consummatione.

From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.

Ab luna signo de die de festo: luminare quod minue in consummatione.

Mensis secundum nomen ejus est, crescens mirabiliter in consummatione.

The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection.

Mense secundo nomine de illo es, cresce mirabiliter in consummatione.

Vas castrorum in excelsis, in firmamento cæli resplendens gloriose.

Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven.

Vase de castros in excelsos, in firmamento de caelo resplende gloriose.

Species cæli gloria stellarum: mundum illuminans in excelsis Dominus.

The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.

Specie de caelo gloria de stellas: mundo illumina in excelsos Domino.

In verbis Sancti stabunt ad judicium, et non deficient in vigiliis suis.

By the words of the holy one they stand in judgment, and shall never fall in their watches.

In verbos Sancto sta ad iudicio, et non defice in vigilias suo.

Vide arcum, et benedic eum qui fecit illum: valde speciosus est in splendore suo.

Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.

Vide arcu, et benedic illo qui fac illo: valde specioso es in splendore suo.

Gyravit cælum in circuitu gloriæ suæ: manus Excelsi aperuerunt illum.

It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.

Cyra caelo in circuitu de gloria suo: manus de Excelso aperi illo.

Imperio suo acceleravit nivem, et accelerat coruscationes emittere judicii sui.

By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.

Imperio suo accilera nive, et accili coruscationes emitte de iudicio suo.

Propterea aperti sunt thesauri, et evolaverunt nebulæ sicut aves.

Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.

Propter hoc aperi es thesauros, et nebulas evola sicut aves.

In magnitudine sua posuit nubes, et confracti sunt lapides grandinis.

By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.

In magnitudine suo pone nube, et confringe es lapides de grandine.

In conspectu ejus commovebuntur montes, et in voluntate ejus aspirabit notus.

At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.

In conspectu de illo montes commove, et in voluntate de illo noto aspira.

Vox tonitrui ejus verberavit terram, tempestas aquilonis, et congregatio spiritus:

The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:

Voce de tonitruo de illo verbera terra, tempestate de aquilone, et congregatione de spiritu:

et sicut avis deponens ad sedendum, aspergit nivem, et sicut locusta demergens descensus ejus.

And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.

Et sicut ave depone ad sede, asperge nive, et sicut locusto deme descensu de illo.

Pulchritudinem candoris ejus admirabitur oculus, et super imbrem ejus expavescet cor.

The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.

Oculo admiror pulchritudine de candore de illo, et super imbre de illo exspavesca corde.

Gelu sicut salem effundet super terram: et dum gelaverit, fiet tamquam cacumina tribuli.

He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.

Gelu sicut sale effunde super terra: et dum gela, i fi sicut cacumines de tribule.

Frigidus ventus aquilo flavit, et gelavit crystallus ab aqua: super omnem congregationem aquarum requiescet, et sicut lorica induet se aquis:

The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.

Frigido vento aquilone fla, et crystallo gela ab aqua: super omni congregatione de aquas requiesce, et sicut lorica indue se aquas:

et devorabit montes, et exuret desertum, et extinguet viride, sicut igne.

And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.

Et devora montes, et exure deserto, et extingue viridi, sicut igni.

Medicina omnium in festinatione nebulæ: et ros obvians ab ardore venienti humilem efficiet eum.

A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.

Medicina de omni in festinatione de nebula: et rore obvia ab ardore veni humili efficie illo.

In sermone ejus siluit ventus, et cogitatione sua placavit abyssum: et plantavit in illa Dominus insulas.

At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.

In sermone de illo vento sile, et cogitatione suo placa abysso: et Domino in illa planta insulas.

Qui navigant mare enarrent pericula ejus, et audientes auribus nostris admirabimur.

Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.

Qui naviga mari enarre periculos de illo, et audi aures nostro admiror.

Illic præclara opera et mirabilia, varia bestiarum genera, et omnium pecorum, et creatura belluarum.

There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.

Ibi praeclara operes et mirabili, varia de bestias generes, et de omni de pecores, et creatura de belluas.

Propter ipsum confirmatus est itineris finis, et in sermone ejus composita sunt omnia.

Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.

Propter ipso confirma es de itinere fine, et in sermone de illo compone es omni.

Multa dicemus, et deficiemus in verbis: consummatio autem sermonum ipse est in omnibus.

We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.

Multo dic, et defice in verbos: consummatione autem de sermones ipso es in omni.

Gloriantes ad quid valebimus? ipse enim omnipotens super omnia opera sua.

What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.

Mlorior ad quid vale? Ipso nam omnipotente super omni operes suo.

Terribilis Dominus, et magnus vehementer, et mirabilis potentia ipsius.

The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.

Terribili Domino, et magna vehementer, et mirabili potentia de ipso.

Glorificantes Dominum quantumcumque potueritis, supervalebit enim adhuc: et admirabilis magnificentia ejus.

Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.

Clorifica Domino et quantumcum pote, supervale nam adhuc: et admirabile magnificentia de illo.

Benedicentes Dominum, exaltate illum quantum potestis: major enim est omni laude.

Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he is above all praise.

Benedic Domino, exalta illo quanto pote: magna nam es omni laude.

Exaltantes eum, replemini virtute, ne laboretis, non enim comprehendetis.

When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.

Exalta illo, reple virtute, ne labora, non nam comprehende.

Quis videbit eum et enarrabit? et quis magnificabit eum sicut est ab initio?

Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?

Qui vide illo et enarra? Et qui magnifica illo sicut es ab initio?

Multa abscondita sunt majora his: pauca enim vidimus operum ejus.

There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of his works.

Multo absconditus es magna hoc: paucissimo nam vide de operes de illo.

Omnia autem Dominus fecit, et pie agentibus dedit sapientiam.

But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath given wisdom.

Omni autem Domino fac, et pie age da sapientia.