and comely as Jerusalem; terrible as an army set in array. 4 Turn away thy eyes from me; for they have made me flee away. Thy hair is as a ly, my dearest, in delights! flock of goats, that appear from Galaad. 5 Thy teeth as a flock of sheep, which thy breasts to clusters of grapes. come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them. 6 Thy cheeks are as the bark of a pome- thy breasts shall be as the clusters of the granate, beside what is hidden within thee. vine; and the odour of thy mouth like ap7 There are threescore queens, and four-ples. score concubines, and young maidens with- 9 Thy throat like the best wine, worthy out number. for my beloved to drink, and for his lips and his teeth to ruminate. 10 I to my beloved, and his turning is towards me. 12 Return, return, O Sulamitess: return, return, that we may behold thee. CHAP. VII. hairs of thy head as the purple of the king bound in the channel. 6 How beautiful art thou, and how come 8 One is my dove; my perfect one is but one; she is the only one of her mother, the chosen of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and declared her most blessed; the queens and concubines, and they praised her. 9 Who is shef that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array? 10 I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the fruits of the vallies, and to look if the vineyard had flourished, and the pome-|| granates budded. 11 I knew not: my soul troubled me for the chariots of Aminadab. 2 Thy navel is like a round bowl never wanting cups. Thy belly is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies. 7 Thy stature is like to a palm-tree, and 8 I said: I will go up into the palm-tree, and will take hold of the fruit thereof: and 3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. 11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us abide in the villages. 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards: let us see if the vineyard flourish, if the flowers be ready to bring forth fruits, if the pomegranates flourish: there will I give thee my breasts. A further description of the graces of the W but the companies of camps? How 2 I will take hold of thee, and bring thee into my mother's house: there thou shalt teach me, and I will give thee a cup of beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince daughter! The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, that are made by the hand of a skil-spiced wine, and new wine of my pomeful workman. 13 The mandrakes give a smell. In our gates are all fruits: the new and the old, my beloved, I have kept for thee. CHAP. VIII. The love of the church to Christ: his love to her. THO shall give thee to me for my bro the of my mo ther, that I may find thee without, and kiss thee, and now no man may despise me? granates. 3 His left hand under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me. 4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor awake my love till she please. 5 Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon 4 Thy neck as a tower of ivory. Thy eyes like the fish-pools in Hesebon, which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude. her beloved? Under the apple-tree I raised Thy nose is as the tower of Libanus, that looketh towards Damascus. 5 Thy head is like Carmel; and the His left hand, &c. Words of the Church to Christ. His left hand signifying the Old Testament, and his right hand the New. * One is my dove, &c. That is, my Church is one, and she only is perfect and blessed. Who is this, &c. The Angels with admiration behold the Gentiles converted to the faith: coming up from the desert, that is, coming from Heathenism and false worship: flowing with delights, that is, abounding with Who is she, &c. Here is a beautiful metaphor describing the Church from the beginning. As, the morning rising, signifying the Church before the written Law; fair as good works which are pleasing to God: the moon, shewing her under the written law leaning on her beloved, on the promise of of Moses; bright as the sun, under the light Christ to his Church, that the gates of heli of the gospel; and terrible as an army, the should not prevail against it; and supported power of Christ's Church against its enemies. by his grace, conferred by the sacraments. of How beautiful are thy steps, &c. By Under the apple-tree I raised thee up: thai these metaphors are signified the power is, that Christ redeemed the Gentiles at the and mission of the Church in propagating foot of the cross, where the synagogue the true faith. the Jews (the mother Church) was corrupt Thy head is like Carmel. Christ the in-ed by their denying him, and crucifying visible head of his Church is here signified.[him. thee up there thy mother was corrupted; there she was defloured that bore thee. 6 Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm: for love is strong as death: jealousy is hard as hell; the lamps thereof are fire and flames. 7 Many waters cannot quench charity; neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he shall despise it as nothing. 8 Our sister is little, and hath no breasts. What shall we do to our sister, in the day when she is to be spoken to? 9 If she be a wall, let us build upon it bulwarks of silver: if she be a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall: and my breasts are as a tower, since I am become in his presence, as one finding peace. Our sister is little, &c. Mystically signifies the Jews, who are to be spoken to that is, converted towards the end of the world; and then shall become a wall, that 14 Flee away, O my beloved; and be like is, a part of the building, the Church of to the roe, and to the young hart upon the Christ. mountains of aromatical spices. 11 The peaceable had a vineyard, in that which hath people: he let out the same to keepers, every man bringeth, for the fruit thereof, a thousand pieces of silver. 12 My vineyard is before me. A thousand are for thee, the peaceable; and two hundred for them that keep the fruit thereof. THE CHAP. I. In exhortation to seek God sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and desireth not our death. OVE justice, you that are the judges of 13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the friends hearken: make me hear thy voice. BOOK OF This book is so called, because it treats of the 'cious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to ness, and seek him in simplicity of heart: 2 For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself to them that have faith in him. All magistrates to minister justice in the 6 For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, commonwealth, teaching all kinds of vir."and will not acquit the evil speaker from tues under the general names of justice and his lips: for God is witness of his reins; and wisdom. It contains also many prophecies he is a true searcher of his heart, and a of Christ's coming, passion, resurrection, hearer of his tongue. and other christian mysteries. The whole 7 For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled may be divided into three parts: In the the whole world: and that, which containsix first chapters, the author admonishes eth all things, hath knowledge of the voice. all superiors to love and exercise justice 8 Therefore he that speaketh unjust and wisdom. In the next three, he teach- things, cannot be hid: neither shall the eth that wisdom proceedeth only from God, chastising judgment pass him by. and is procured by prayer and a good life. 9 For inquisition shall be made into the In the other ten chapters, he sheweth the thoughts of the ungodly and the hearing excellent effects and utility of wisdom and of his words shall come to God, to the chasjustice. tising of his iniquities. 10 For the ear of jealousy heareth all things and the tumult of murmuring shall not be hid. : 11 Keep yourselves therefore from murmuring, which profiteth nothing; and refrain your tongue from detraction; for an not go and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul. 12 Seek not death in the error of your life: neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands. 13. For God made not death, neither hath 3 For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, re-he pleasure in the destruction of the living. proveth the unwise : 14 For he created all things that they 4 For wisdom will not enter into a mali-might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of filthiness; and he preferreth the latter end destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell of the just, and glorieth that he hath God upon the earth. for his father. 15 For justice is perpetual and immortal. 16 But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and esteeming it a friend, have fallen away, and have made a covenant with it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof. CHAP. II. 17 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. 18 For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies. 19 Let us examine him by outrages and The vain reasonings of the wicked: their per-tortures, that we may know his meekness secuting the just, especially the Son of God. and try his patience. with them- 20 us condemn him to a most share NOR they have said, Fselves, but not right. The time of our ful death: for there shall be respect had life is short and tedious; and in the end of unto him by his words. 2 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, 3 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: 21 These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice blinded them. 22 And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls. 23 For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him. 24 But by the eavy of the devil, death came into the world: 25 And they follow him that are of his side. CHAP. IN. 4 And our name in time shall be forgotten: and no man shall have any remem- The happiness of the just and the unhappibrance of our works. ness of the wicked. 5 For our time is as the passing of a sha- UT the souls are hand dow; and there is no going back of our end: B of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth. 6 Come therefore, and let us enjoy the 2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed good things that are present, and let us to die: and their departure was taken for speedily use the creatures as in youth. misery: 7 Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, 3 And their going away from us, for utand ointments: and let not the flower of the ter destruction: but they are in peace. time pass by us. 4 And though in the sight of men they 8 Let us crown ourselves with roses, be-suffered torments, their hope is full of imfore they be withered: let no meadow es-mortality. cape our riot. 5 Afflicted in few things, in many they 9 Let none of us go without his part in shall be well rewarded: because God hath luxury let us every where leave tokens of tried them, and found them worthy of himjoy for this is our portion, and this our lot. self. : : 10 Let us oppress the poor just man, and 6 As gold in the furnace he hath proved not spare the widow, nor honour the an-them; and as a victim of a holocaust, he cient grey hairs of the aged. hath received them; and in time there shall 11 But let our strength be the law of jus-be respect had to them. tice for that which is feeble, is found to be nothing worth. 8 They shall judge nations, and rule over people; and their Lord shall reign for ever. 12 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 9 They that trust in him, shall underus with transgressions of the law, and di-stand the truth: and they that are faithful vulgeth against us the sins of our way of life. in love shall rest in him: for grace and 13 He boasteth that he hat!: the know-peace is to his elect. ledge of God, and calleth himself the son 10 But the wicked shall be punished acof God. cording to their own devices; who have 14 He is become a censurer of our thoughts. neglected the just, and have revolted from 15 He is grievous unto us, even to be- the Lord. hold for his life is not like other men's, 11 For he that rejecteth wisdom and disand his ways are very different. cipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, 16 We are esteemed by him as triflers; and their labours without fruit, and their and he abstaineth from our ways as from works unprofitable. 7 The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. 12 Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked. 13 Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time: 14 For his soul pleased God: therefore 13 Their offspring is cursed: for happy is the barren; and the undefiled, that hath he hastened to bring him out of the midst not known bed in sin: she shall have fruit of iniquities: but the people see this, and in the visitation of holy souls. understand not, nor lay up such things in 14 And the eunuch, that hath not wrought their hearts: iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked 15 That the grace of God, and his mercy things against God: for the precious gift of is with his saints, and that he hath respect faith shall be given to him, and a most ac-to his chosen. ceptable lot in the temple of God. 16 But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living; and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust. 15 For the fruit of good labours is glorious; and the root of wisdom never faileth. 16 But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection; and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out. 17 And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded: and their last old age shall be without honour. 18 And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of comfort in the day of trial. 19 For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race. CHAP. IV. The difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations; and between the death of the just, and the wicked. 17 For they shall see the end of the wise man, and shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety. 8 For venerable old age is not that of ong time, nor counted by the number of ears: but the understanding of a man is "ey hairs; 9 And a spotless life is old age. 1 He was taken away lest wickedness shald alter his understanding, or deceit beile his soul. 18 They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall laugh them to scorn: 19 And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations: and they shall be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow; and their memory shall perish. 0 The fruitless repentance of the wicked in of is immortal: because it is known both another world: the reward of the just. HOW beautiful is the chaste genera- with God and with men. THEN shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have af 2 When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it when it hath withdrawn it-flicted them, and taken away their labours. self: and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts. 2 These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, 3 But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive: and bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation. 4 And if they flourish in branches for time, yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind; and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out. 3 Saying within themselves, repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit: These alare they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a parable of reproach. 4 We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. 5 For the branches not being perfect, 5 Behold, how they are numbered among shall be broken: and their fruits shall be the children of God, and their lot is among unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for the saints. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth go things: and the wandering of concupistice overturneth the innocent mind. 20 They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins: and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them, CHAP. V. nothing. 6 Therefore we have erred from the way 6 For the children that are born of un-of truth; and the light of justice hath not lawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness shined unto us; and the sun of understandagainst their parents in their trial. ing hath not risen upon us. 7 But the just man, if he be prevented|| with death, shall be in rest. 7 We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways: but the way of the Lord we have not known. 8 What hath pride profited us; or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? 9 All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, 10 And as a ship that passeth through the waves; whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters: 11 Or as when a bird flieth through the lair; of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings 4 For power is given you by the Lord, beating the light air, and parting it by the and strength by the most High, who will force of her flight; she moved her wings, examine your works, and search out your and hath flown through; and there is no thoughts: mark found afterwards of her way: 5 Because being ministers of his king12 Or as when an arrow is shot at a dom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept mark, the divided air presently cometh to- the law of justice, nor walked according to gether again, so that the passage thereof is the will of God. not known: 6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to 13 So we also being born, forthwith you: for a most severe judgment shall be ceased to be; and have been able to shew for them that bear rule. no mark of virtue; but are consumed in our wickedness. 7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented. 8 For God will not accept any man's person; neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great; and he hath equally care of all. 9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty. 14 Such things as these the sinners said in hell: 15 For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind; and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm; and as smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind; and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by. 16 But the just shall live for evermore and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High. 11 For they that have kept just things 17 Therefore shall they receive a king- justly, shall be justified: and they that have dom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the learned these things, shall find what to anhand of the Lord: for with his right hand swer. he will cover them; and with his holy arm he will defend them. 12 Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction. 18 And his zeal will take armour: and he will arra the creature for the revenge of his enemies. 13 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her. 19 He will put on justice as a breastplate and will take true judgment instead of a helmet: 20 He will take equity for an invincible shield: 21 And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear: and the whole world shall fight with him against the unwise. 22 Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds; as from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the mark. 24 A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind shall divide them; and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a desert; and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. CHAP. VI. W An address to princes to seek after wisdom she is easily found by those that seek her. VISDOM is better than strength and a wise man is better than a strong man. 2 Hear therefore ye kings, and understand; learn ye that are judges of the ends of the earth; 10 To you therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it. 18 For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline: 23 And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone-casting wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them; 19 And the care of discipline is love: and and the rivers shall run together in a terrible manner. love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption: 20 And incorruption bringeth near to God. 21 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom. 22 If then your delight be in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever. 23 Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples. 24 Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth: 25 Neither will I go with consuming en 3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations: 14 She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them. 15 He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door. 16 To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure. : 17 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence. |