| 1 |
verba Congregantis filii Vomentis visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus et qui Deo secum morante confortatus ait
The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the man spoke, with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding with him, said:
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| 2 |
stultissimus sum virorum et sapientia hominum non est mecum
I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.
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| 3 |
non didici sapientiam et non novi sanctorum scientiam
I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of saints.
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| 4 |
quis ascendit in caelum atque descendit quis continuit spiritum manibus suis quis conligavit aquas quasi in vestimento quis suscitavit omnes terminos terrae quod nomen eius et quod nomen filii eius si nosti
Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest?
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| 5 |
omnis sermo Dei ignitus clypeus est sperantibus in se
Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him.
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| 6 |
ne addas quicquam verbis illius et arguaris inveniarisque mendax
Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved and found a liar:
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| 7 |
duo rogavi te ne deneges mihi antequam moriar
Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die.
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| 8 |
vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi tribue tantum victui meo necessaria
Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life:
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| 9 |
ne forte saturatus inliciar ad negandum et dicam quis est Dominus et egestate conpulsus furer et peierem nomen Dei mei
Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of my God.
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| 10 |
ne accuses servum ad dominum suum ne forte maledicat tibi et corruas
Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou fall.
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| 11 |
generatio quae patri suo maledicit et quae non benedicit matri suae
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
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| 12 |
generatio quae sibi munda videtur et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis
A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
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| 13 |
generatio cuius excelsi sunt oculi et palpebrae eius in alta subrectae
A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high.
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| 14 |
generatio quae pro dentibus gladios habet et commandit molaribus suis ut comedat inopes de terra et pauperes ex hominibus
A generation that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men.
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| 15 |
sanguisugae duae sunt filiae dicentes adfer adfer tria sunt insaturabilia et quartum quod numquam dicit sufficit
The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough.
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| 16 |
infernus et os vulvae et terra quae non satiatur aqua ignis vero numquam dicit sufficit
Hell and the mouth of the womb, and the earth which is not satisfied with water: and the fire never saith: It is enough.
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| 17 |
oculum qui subsannat patrem et qui despicit partum matris suae effodiant corvi de torrentibus et comedant illum filii aquilae
The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth the labour of his mother in bearing him, let the ravens of the brooks pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.
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| 18 |
tria sunt difficilia mihi et quartum penitus ignoro
Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of.
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| 19 |
viam aquilae in caelo viam colubri super petram viam navis in medio mari et viam viri in adulescentula
The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man in youth.
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| 20 |
talis est via mulieris adulterae quae comedit et tergens os suum dicit non sum operata malum
Such also is the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth and wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil.
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| 21 |
per tria movetur terra et quartum non potest sustinere
By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot bear.
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| 22 |
per servum cum regnaverit per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo
By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when be is filled with meat:
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| 23 |
per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit adsumpta et per ancillam cum heres fuerit dominae suae
By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when she is heir to her mistress.
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| 24 |
quattuor sunt minima terrae et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus
There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise.
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| 25 |
formicae populus infirmus quae praeparant in messe cibum sibi
The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest:
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| 26 |
lepusculus plebs invalida quae conlocat in petra cubile suum
The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock:
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| 27 |
regem lucusta non habet et egreditur universa per turmas
The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands:
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| 28 |
stilio manibus nititur et moratur in aedibus regis
The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings' houses.
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| 29 |
tria sunt quae bene gradiuntur et quartum quod incedit feliciter
There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that walketh happily:
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| 30 |
leo fortissimus bestiarum ad nullius pavebit occursum
A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing he meeteth:
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| 31 |
gallus succinctus lumbos et aries nec est rex qui resistat ei
A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none can resist.
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| 32 |
et qui stultus apparuit postquam elatus est in sublime si enim intellexisset ori inposuisset manum
There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth.
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| 33 |
qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum et qui vehementer emungitur elicit sanguinem et qui provocat iras producit discordias
And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath, bringeth forth strife.
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