Wisdom 2

For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell:

Dixerunt enim cogitantes apud se non recte : Exiguum et cum tædio est tempus vitæ nostræ, et non est refrigerium in fine hominis, et non est qui agnitus sit reversus ab inferis.

εἶπον γὰρ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λογισάμενοι οὐκ ὀρθῶς ὀλίγος ἐστὶν καὶ λυπηρὸς ὁ βίος ἡμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις ἐν τελευτῇ ἀνθρώπου καὶ οὐκ ἐγνώσθη ὁ ἀναλύσας ἐξ ᾅδου

For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a spark to move our heart,

Quia ex nihilo nati sumus, et post hoc erimus tamquam non fuerimus. Quoniam fumus flatus est in naribus nostris, et sermo scintilla ad commovendum cor nostrum :

ὅτι αὐτοσχεδίως ἐγενήθημεν καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο ἐσόμεθα ὡς οὐχ ὑπάρξαντες ὅτι καπνὸς ἡ πνοὴ ἐν ῥισὶν ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ λόγος σπινθὴρ ἐν κινήσει καρδίας ἡμῶν

Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof:

qua extincta, cinis erit corpus nostrum, et spiritus diffundetur tamquam mollis aër; et transibit vita nostra tamquam vestigium nubis, et sicut nebula dissolvetur quæ fugata est a radiis solis, et a calore illius aggravata.

οὗ σβεσθέντος τέφρα ἀποβήσεται τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα διαχυθήσεται ὡς χαῦνος ἀήρ

And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any remembrance of our works.

Et nomen nostrum oblivionem accipiet per tempus, et nemo memoriam habebit operum nostrorum.

καὶ τὸ ὄνομα ἡμῶν ἐπιλησθήσεται ἐν χρόνῳ καὶ οὐθεὶς μνημονεύσει τῶν ἔργων ἡμῶν καὶ παρελεύσεται ὁ βίος ἡμῶν ὡς ἴχνη νεφέλης καὶ ὡς ὁμίχλη διασκεδασθήσεται διωχθεῖσα ὑπὸ ἀκτίνων ἡλίου καὶ ὑπὸ θερμότητος αὐτοῦ βαρυνθεῖσα

For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth:

Umbræ enim transitus est tempus nostrum, et non est reversio finis nostri : quoniam consignata est, et nemo revertitur.

σκιᾶς γὰρ πάροδος ὁ καιρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀναποδισμὸς τῆς τελευτῆς ἡμῶν ὅτι κατεσφραγίσθη καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναστρέφει

Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth.

Venite ergo, et fruamur bonis quæ sunt, et utamur creatura tamquam in juventute celeriter.

δεῦτε οὖν καὶ ἀπολαύσωμεν τῶν ὄντων ἀγαθῶν καὶ χρησώμεθα τῇ κτίσει ὡς ἐν νεότητι σπουδαίως

Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not the flower of the time pass by us.

Vino pretioso et unguentis nos impleamus, et non prætereat nos flos temporis.

οἴνου πολυτελοῦς καὶ μύρων πλησθῶμεν καὶ μὴ παροδευσάτω ἡμᾶς ἄνθος ἔαρος

Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no meadow escape our riot.

Coronemus nos rosis antequam marcescant; nullum pratum sit quod non pertranseat luxuria nostra :

στεψώμεθα ῥόδων κάλυξιν πρὶν ἢ μαρανθῆναι

Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us everywhere leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot.

nemo nostrum exsors sit luxuriæ nostræ. Ubique relinquamus signa lætitiæ, quoniam hæc est pars nostra, et hæc est sors.

μηδεὶς ἡμῶν ἄμοιρος ἔστω τῆς ἡμετέρας ἀγερωχίας πανταχῇ καταλίπωμεν σύμβολα τῆς εὐφροσύνης ὅτι αὕτη ἡ μερὶς ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ κλῆρος οὗτος

Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged.

Opprimamus pauperem justum, et non parcamus viduæ, nec veterani revereamur canos multi temporis :

καταδυναστεύσωμεν πένητα δίκαιον μὴ φεισώμεθα χήρας μηδὲ πρεσβύτου ἐντραπῶμεν πολιὰς πολυχρονίους

But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth.

sit autem fortitudo nostra lex justitiæ; quod enim infirmum est, inutile invenitur.

ἔστω δὲ ἡμῶν ἡ ἰσχὺς νόμος τῆς δικαιοσύνης τὸ γὰρ ἀσθενὲς ἄχρηστον ἐλέγχεται

Let us, therefore, lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way of life.

Circumveniamus ergo justum, quoniam inutilis est nobis, et contrarius est operibus nostris, et improperat nobis peccata legis, et diffamat in nos peccata disciplinæ nostræ.

ἐνεδρεύσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον ὅτι δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἐστιν καὶ ἐναντιοῦται τοῖς ἔργοις ἡμῶν καὶ ὀνειδίζει ἡμῖν ἁμαρτήματα νόμου καὶ ἐπιφημίζει ἡμῖν ἁμαρτήματα παιδείας ἡμῶν

He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth himself the son of God.

Promittit se scientiam Dei habere, et filium Dei se nominat.

ἐπαγγέλλεται γνῶσιν ἔχειν θεοῦ καὶ παῖδα κυρίου ἑαυτὸν ὀνομάζει

He is become a censurer of our thoughts.

Factus est nobis in traductionem cogitationum nostrarum.

ἐγένετο ἡμῖν εἰς ἔλεγχον ἐννοιῶν ἡμῶν βαρύς ἐστιν ἡμῖν καὶ βλεπόμενος

He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like other men’s, and his ways are very different.

Gravis est nobis etiam ad videndum, quoniam dissimilis est aliis vita illius, et immutatæ sunt viæ ejus.

ὅτι ἀνόμοιος τοῖς ἄλλοις ὁ βίος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξηλλαγμέναι αἱ τρίβοι αὐτοῦ

We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, and glorieth that he hath God for his father.

Tamquam nugaces æstimati sumus ab illo, et abstinet se a viis nostris tamquam ab immunditiis, et præfert novissima justorum, et gloriatur patrem se habere Deum.

εἰς κίβδηλον ἐλογίσθημεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπέχεται τῶν ὁδῶν ἡμῶν ὡς ἀπὸ ἀκαθαρσιῶν μακαρίζει ἔσχατα δικαίων καὶ ἀλαζονεύεται πατέρα θεόν

Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be.

Videamus ergo si sermones illius veri sint, et tentemus quæ ventura sunt illi, et sciemus quæ erunt novissima illius.

ἴδωμεν εἰ οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ ἀληθεῖς καὶ πειράσωμεν τὰ ἐν ἐκβάσει αὐτοῦ

For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies.

Si enim est verus filius Dei, suscipiet illum, et liberabit eum de manibus contrariorum.

εἰ γάρ ἐστιν ὁ δίκαιος υἱὸς θεοῦ ἀντιλήμψεται αὐτοῦ καὶ ῥύσεται αὐτὸν ἐκ χειρὸς ἀνθεστηκότων

Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness, and try his patience.

Contumelia et tormento interrogemus eum, ut sciamus reverentiam ejus, et probemus patientiam illius.

ὕβρει καὶ βασάνῳ ἐτάσωμεν αὐτόν ἵνα γνῶμεν τὴν ἐπιείκειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ δοκιμάσωμεν τὴν ἀνεξικακίαν αὐτοῦ

Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words.

Morte turpissima condemnemus eum; erit enim ei respectus ex sermonibus illius.

θανάτῳ ἀσχήμονι καταδικάσωμεν αὐτόν ἔσται γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἐπισκοπὴ ἐκ λόγων αὐτοῦ

These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice blinded them.

Hæc cogitaverunt, et erraverunt : excæcavit enim illos malitia eorum.

ταῦτα ἐλογίσαντο καὶ ἐπλανήθησαν ἀπετύφλωσεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἡ κακία αὐτῶν

And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls.

Et nescierunt sacramenta Dei : neque mercedem speraverunt justitiæ, nec judicaverunt honorem animarum sanctarum.

καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν μυστήρια θεοῦ οὐδὲ μισθὸν ἤλπισαν ὁσιότητος οὐδὲ ἔκριναν γέρας ψυχῶν ἀμώμων

For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him.

Quoniam Deus creavit hominem inexterminabilem, et ad imaginem similitudinis suæ fecit illum.

ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἔκτισεν τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐπ' ἀφθαρσίᾳ καὶ εἰκόνα τῆς ἰδίας ἀϊδιότητος ἐποίησεν αὐτόν

But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world:

Invidia autem diaboli mors introivit in orbem terrarum:

φθόνῳ δὲ διαβόλου θάνατος εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον

And they follow him that are of his side.

imitantur autem illum qui sunt ex parte illius.

πειράζουσιν δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ τῆς ἐκείνου μερίδος ὄντες