Wisdom of Solomon · Clementine Vulgate
Wisdom of Solomon 4 Clementine Vulgate
1 [O quam pulchra est casta generatio, cum claritate ! immortalis est enim memoria illius, quoniam et apud Deum nota est, et apud homines.
1 It is better to be childless with virtue, for immortality is in the memory of virtue, because it is recognized both before God and before men.
2 Cum præsens est, imitantur illam, et desiderant eam cum se eduxerit; et in perpetuum coronata triumphat, incoinquinatorum certaminum præmium vincens.
2 When it is present, people imitate it. They long after it when it has departed. Throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph, victorious in the competition for the prizes that are undefiled.
3 Multigena autem impiorum multitudo non erit utilis, et spuria vitulamina non dabunt radices altas, nec stabile firmamentum collocabunt.
3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly will be of no profit, and their illegitimate offshoots won’t take deep root, nor will they establish a sure hold.
4 Etsi in ramis in tempore germinaverint, infirmiter posita, a vento commovebuntur, et a nimietate ventorum eradicabuntur.
4 For even if they grow branches and flourish for a season, standing unsure, they will be shaken by the wind. They will be uprooted by the violence of winds.
5 Confringentur enim rami inconsummati; et fructus illorum inutiles et acerbi ad manducandum, et ad nihilum apti.
5 Their branches will be broken off before they come to maturity. Their fruit will be useless, never ripe to eat, and fit for nothing.
6 Ex iniquis enim somnis filii qui nascuntur, testes sunt nequitiæ adversus parentes in interrogatione sua.
6 For unlawfully conceived children are witnesses of wickedness against parents when they are investigated.
7 Justus autem si morte præoccupatus fuerit, in refrigerio erit;
7 But a righteous man, even if he dies before his time, will be at rest.
8 senectus enim venerabilis est non diuturna, neque annorum numero computata: cani autem sunt sensus hominis,
8 For honorable old age is not that which stands in length of time, nor is its measure given by number of years,
9 et ætas senectutis vita immaculata.
9 but understanding is gray hair to men, and an unspotted life is ripe old age.
10 Placens Deo factus est dilectus, et vivens inter peccatores translatus est.
10 Being found well-pleasing to God, someone was loved. While living among sinners he was transported.
11 Raptus est, ne malitia mutaret intellectum ejus, aut ne fictio deciperet animam illius.
11 He was caught away, lest evil should change his understanding, or guile deceive his soul.
12 Fascinatio enim nugacitatis obscurat bona, et inconstantia concupiscentiæ transvertit sensum sine malitia.
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures the things which are good, and the whirl of desire perverts an innocent mind.
13 Consummatus in brevi, explevit tempora multa;
13 Being made perfect quickly, he filled a long time;
14 placita enim erat Deo anima illius: propter hoc properavit educere illum de medio iniquitatum. Populi autem videntes, et non intelligentes, nec ponentes in præcordiis talia,
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. Therefore he hurried out of the midst of wickedness.
15 quoniam gratia Dei et misericordia est in sanctos ejus, et respectus in electos illius.
15 But the peoples saw and didn’t understand, not considering this, that grace and mercy are with his chosen, and that he visits his holy ones;
16 Condemnat autem justus mortuus vivos impios, et juventus celerius consummata longam vitam injusti.
16 but a righteous man who is dead will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth who is quickly perfected will condemn the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age.
17 Videbunt enim finem sapientis, et non intelligent quid cogitaverit de illo Deus, et quare munierit illum Dominus.
17 For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, and won’t understand what the Lord planned for him, and why he safely kept him.
18 Videbunt, et contemnent eum; illos autem Dominus irridebit.
18 They will see, and they will despise; but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this, they will become a dishonored carcass and a reproach among the dead forever;
19 Et erunt post hæc decidentes sine honore, et in contumelia inter mortuos in perpetuum: quoniam disrumpet illos inflatos sine voce, et commovebit illos a fundamentis, et usque ad supremum desolabuntur, et erunt gementes, et memoria illorum peribit.
19 because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and will shake them from the foundations. They will lie utterly waste. They will be in anguish and their memory will perish.
20 Venient in cogitatione peccatorum suorum timidi, et traducent illos ex adverso iniquitates ipsorum.]
20 They will come with coward fear when their sins are counted. Their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Of whom it was said before in Wisdom, "Their own iniquities shall convince them to their face." Without doubt they will see that they are justly condemned for their sins and wickednesses; yet it will be as though He said to them, "It is not in consequence of this that ye think, but because I was hungry, and ye gave …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
What if "he was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding." But he was a sinner, thou sayest, and therefore I wished him to live, that he might be corrected.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Now God grants them the approach of a healthy shame, if they despise not the medicine of confession: but if they will not now be ashamed, then they shall be ashamed, when "their iniquities shall convince them to their face." How shall they be ashamed?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)