Liber Sapientiae

Magna sunt enim judicia tua, Domine, et inenarrabilia verba tua: propter hoc indisciplinatæ animæ erraverunt.

For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.

Magna es nam iudicios tuo, Domino, et inenarrabili verbos tuo: propter hoc indisciplina animas erra.

Dum enim persuasum habent iniqui posse dominari nationi sanctæ, vinculis tenebrarum et longæ noctis compediti, inclusi sub tectis, fugitivi perpetuæ providentiæ jacuerunt.

For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.

Dum nam persuade iniquo habe posse dominor ad natione sancto, vinculos de tenebras et longo de nocte compeda, include sub tege, fugitivo perpetua de providentia iace.

Et dum putant se latere in obscuris peccatis, tenebroso oblivionis velamento dispersi sunt, paventes horrende, et cum admiratione nimia perturbati.

And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly afraid, and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.

Et dum puta se latere in obscure peccatos, tenebroso de oblivione velamento disperge es, pave horre, et cum admiratione nimia perturba.

Neque enim quæ continebat illos spelunca sine timore custodiebat, quoniam sonitus descendens perturbabat illos, et personæ tristes illis apparentes pavorem illis præstabant.

For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.

Neque nam que contine illos spelunca sine timore custodi, quia sonitu descende perturba illos, et personas triste ad illos appare praesta ad illos pavore.

Et ignis quidem nulla vis poterat illis lumen præbere, nec siderum limpidæ flammæ illuminare poterant illam noctem horrendam.

And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.

Et igni quidem nullo vi pote ad illos lumine praebe, nec de sideros de limpida de flamma illumina pote illa nocte horre.

Apparebat autem illis subitaneus ignis, timore plenus; et timore perculsi illius quæ non videbatur faciei, æstimabant deteriora esse quæ videbantur.

But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:

Appare autem ad illos subitanio igni, timore plena; et timore percelle de illo que non vide de facie, aestima deteriore es que vide.

Et magicæ artis appositi erant derisus, et sapientiæ gloriæ correptio cum contumelia.

And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.

Et magicas de arte appone es decide, et de sapientia de gloria correptione cum contumelia.

Illi enim qui promittebant timores et perturbationes expellere se ab anima languente, hi cum derisu pleni timore languebant.

For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.

Illo nam qui promitte timores et perturbationes expelle se ab anima langue, hoc cum derisu plena timore langue.

Nam etsi nihil illos ex monstris perturbabat, transitu animalium et serpentium sibilatione commoti, tremebundi peribant, et aërem quem nulla ratione quis effugere posset, negantes se videre.

For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.

Nam etsi nihil perturba ex monstros illos, transitu de animales et de serpentes sibilatione commove, treme peri, et aëra quem nullo ratione qui effuge pote, nega se videre.

Cum sit enim timida nequitia, dat testimonium condemnationis: semper enim præsumit sæva, perturbata conscientia:

For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.

Cum es nam timido nequitia, da testimonio de condemnatione: semper nam saevo praesume, perturba conscientia:

nihil enim est timor nisi proditio cogitationis auxiliorum.

For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from thought.

Nihil nam es timore nisi proditione de cogitatione de auxilios.

Et dum ab intus minor est exspectatio, majorem computat inscientiam ejus causæ, de qua tormentum præstat.

And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.

Et dum ab intus minimo es exspectatione, magna computa inscientia de illo de causa, de quo tormento praesta.

Illi autem qui impotentem vere noctem, et ab infimis et ab altissimis inferis supervenientem, eumdem somnum dormientes,

But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep,

Illo autem qui impota vere nocte, et ab infima et ab altissimo inferos superveni, eumde somno dormi,

aliquando monstrorum exagitabantur timore, aliquando animæ deficiebant traductione: subitaneus enim illis et insperatus timor supervenerat.

Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.

Aliquando de monstros exagita timore, aliquando animas defice traductione: subitanio nam ad illos et inspera timore superveni.

Deinde si quisquam ex illis decidisset, custodiebatur in carcere sine ferro reclusus.

Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison without irons.

Deinde si ullo ex illos decide, custodi in carcere sine ferro reclude.

Si enim rusticus quis erat, aut pastor, aut agri laborum operarius præoccupatus esset, ineffugibilem sustinebat necessitatem;

For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.

Si nam rustico qui es, aut pastore, aut de agro de labores operario praeoccupa es, ineffugibile sustine necessitate;

una enim catena tenebrarum omnes erant colligati. Sive spiritus sibilans, aut inter spissos arborum ramos avium sonus suavis, aut vis aquæ decurrentis nimium,

For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,

Uno nam catena de tenebras omni es collige. Sive spiritu sibila, aut inter spinta de arbores ramos de aves sono suavi, aut vi de aqua decurre nimio,

aut sonus validus præcipitatarum petrarum, aut ludentium animalium cursus invisus, aut mugientium valida bestiarum vox, aut resonans de altissimis montibus echo: deficientes faciebant illos præ timore.

Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.

Aut sono valida praecepsta de petras, aut lude de animales cursu invise, aut mugie valida de bestias voce, aut resona de altissimo montes echo: defice fac illos prae timore.

Omnis enim orbis terrarum limpido illuminabatur lumine, et non impeditis operibus continebatur.

For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and none were hindered in their labours.

Omni nam orbe de terras limpido illumina lumine, et non impedie operes contine.

Solis autem illis superposita erat gravis nox, imago tenebrarum quæ superventura illis erat: ipsi ergo sibi erant graviores tenebris.

But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.

De sole autem ad illos superpone es gravi nocte, imagine de tenebras que superventi ad illos es: ipso ergo ad se es gravi ad tenebras.