I For it was enough only to make trial of the 19 1 But upon the ungodly there came unto the end indignation without mercy; For their future also God foreknew, 2 How that, having changed their minds to let thy people go, And having speeded them eagerly on their way, They would repent themselves and pursue 3 For while they were yet in the midst of their And making lamentation at the graves of the They drew upon themselves another counsel of And pursued as fugitives those whom with in treaties they had cast out. 4 For 1the doom which they deserved was draw-Or, their ing them unto this end, And it made them forget the things that had That they might fill up the punishment which desert by necessity was 2 Some au thorities read unto this at last. 3 5 And that thy people might journey on by Some aua marvellous road, But they themselves might find a strange death. 6 For the whole creation, each part in its several kind, was fashioned again anew, Ministering to thy several commandments, thorities read make trial of. That thy servants might be guarded free Or, children from hurt. 7 Then was beheld the cloud that shadowed the camp, And dry land rising up out of what before was water, Out of the Red sea an unhindered highway, And a grassy plain out of the violent surge; 'Or, Through 1By which they passed over with all their hosts, 8 These that were covered with thy hand, Having beheld strange marvels. For like horses they roamed at large, And they skipped about like lambs, Praising thee, O Lord, who wast their deliverer. 9 For they still remembered the things that came 10 to pass in the time of their sojourning, 2 Or, birth of How that instead of bearing cattle the land brought forth lice, cattle 3 Gr. living creatures. ♦ Or, sand flies 5 Gr. creatures of the waters. • Or, production Gr.generation. ↑ Some au thorities omit beforehand. 8 Or, yet more grievous was The Greek text of this and And instead of fish the river cast up a multitude of frogs. But afterwards they saw also a new race of 11 birds, When, led on by desire, they asked for luxurious dainties; For, to solace them, there came up for them 12 quails from the sea. And upon the sinners came the punishments Not without the tokens that were given ' beforehand by the force of the thunders; For justly did they suffer through their own wickednesses, the following For grievous indeed was the hatred which they practised toward guests. verse is per haps corrupt. 10 Gr. them who knew them not. 11 Gr These. 12 Or, visit them... sort; since the men 9 13 For whereas the men of Sodom received not 14 10 the strangers when they came among them; "The Egyptians made slaves of guests who were their benefactors. of Sodom re- And not only so, but God shall 12 visit 13the men 15 ceived...aliens 13 Gr. them. of Sodom after another sort, Since they received as enemies them that were aliens; 16 Whereas these first welcomed with feastings, And then afflicted with dreadful toils, Them that had already shared with them in the same rights. 17 And moreover they were stricken with loss of sight (Even as were those others at the righteous man's doors), When, being compassed about with yawning darkness, They sought every one the passage through his own door. 18 For as the notes of a psaltery vary the character of the rhythm, Even so did the elements, changing their order one with another, Continuing always the same, each in its several sound; As may clearly be 'divined from the sight of 1 Gr. conjec the things that are come to pass. 19 For creatures of the dry land were turned into creatures of the waters, And creatures that swim trode now upon the earth: 20 Fire kept the mastery of its own power in the midst of water, And water forgat its quenching nature: 21 Contrariwise, flames wasted not the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them; Neither melted they the ice-like grains of ambrosial food, that were of nature apt to melt. 22 For in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, And thou didst glorify them and not lightly regard them; tured. 2 The Greek authorities read could be Latin seems melted. The to have preserved the original Greek text. 3 Gr. ice-like Standing by their side in every time and place. kind. THE WISDOM OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH, OR ECCLESIASTICUS. The Prologue of the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach. WHEREAS many and great things have been delivered unto us by the law and the prophets, and by the others that have followed in their steps, for the which things we must give Israel the praise of instruction and wisdom; and since not only the readers must needs become skilful themselves, but also they that love learning must be able to profit them which are without, both by speaking and writing; my grandfather Jesus, having much given himself to the reading of the law, and the prophets, and the other books of our fathers, and having gained great familiarity therein, was drawn on also himself to write somewhat pertaining to instruction and wisdom; in order that those who love learning, and are addicted to these things, might make progress much more by living according to the law. Ye are intreated therefore to read with favour and attention, and to pardon us, if in any parts of what we have laboured to interpret, we may seem to fail in some of the phrases. For things originally spoken in Hebrew have not the same force in them, when they are translated into another : work tongue and not only these, but the law itself, and the prophecies, and the rest of the books, have no small difference, when they are spoken in their original language. For having come into Egypt in the eight and thirtieth year of Euergetes the king, and having continued there some time, I found 1a copy affording no small 1 Or, a like instruction. I thought it therefore most neces- The word is of sary for me to apply some diligence and travail very doubtful to interpret this book; applying indeed much meaning. watchfulness and skill in that space of time to bring the book to an end, and set it forth for them also, who in the land of their sojourning are desirous to learn, fashioning their manners beforehand, so as to live according to the law. ALL wisdom cometh from the Lord, And is with him for ever. 2 The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain, And the deep, and wisdom, who shall search 4 Wisdom hath been created before all things, And the understanding of prudence from everlasting.2 2 Verses 5 and 6 To whom hath the root of wisdom been re- 7 are omitted vealed? And who hath known her shrewd counsels ? 2 8 There is one wise, greatly to be feared, The Lord sitting upon his throne : 9 He created her, And saw, and numbered her, And poured her out upon all his works. 10 She is with all flesh according to his gift; And he gave her freely to them that love him. II The fear of the Lord is glory, and exultation, by the best authorities. |