1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

1 Justorum autem animæ in manu Dei sunt,
et non tanget illos tormentum mortis.

2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

2 Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori,
et æstimata est afflictio exitus illorum,

3 And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

3 et quod a nobis est iter exterminium;
illi autem sunt in pace:

4 For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

4 etsi coram hominibus tormenta passi sunt,
spes illorum immortalitate plena est.

5 And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

5 In paucis vexati, in multis bene disponentur,
quoniam Deus tentavit eos,
et invenit illos dignos se.

6 As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

6 Tamquam aurum in fornace probavit illos,
et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos,
et in tempore erit respectus illorum.

7 And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

7 Fulgebunt justi
et tamquam scintillæ in arundineto discurrent.

8 They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

8 Judicabunt nationes, et dominabuntur populis,
et regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum.

9 They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

9 Qui confidunt in illo intelligent veritatem,
et fideles in dilectione acquiescent illi,
quoniam donum et pax est electis ejus.

10 But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.

10 Impii autem secundum quæ cogitaverunt
correptionem habebunt:
qui neglexerunt justum,
et a Domino recesserunt.

11 For whoso despiseth wisdom and nurture, he is miserable, and their hope is vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works unprofitable:

11 Sapientiam enim et disciplinam qui abjicit infelix est:
et vacua est spes illorum,
et labores sine fructu,
et inutilia opera eorum.

12 Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked:

12 Mulieres eorum insensatæ sunt,
et nequissimi filii eorum.

13 Their offspring is cursed. Wherefore blessed is the barren that is undefiled, which hath not known the sinful bed: she shall have fruit in the visitation of souls.

13 Maledicta creatura eorum, quoniam felix est sterilis;
et incoinquinata, quæ nescivit thorum in delicto,
habebit fructum in respectione animarum sanctarum;

14 And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind.

14 et spado qui non operatus est per manus suas iniquitatem,
nec cogitavit adversus Deum nequissima:
dabitur enim illi fidei donum electum,
et sors in templo Dei acceptissima.

15 For glorious is the fruit of good labours: and the root of wisdom shall never fall away.

15 Bonorum enim laborum gloriosus est fructus,
et quæ non concidat radix sapientiæ.

16 As for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to their perfection, and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out.

16 Filii autem adulterorum in inconsummatione erunt,
et ab iniquo thoro semen exterminabitur.

17 For though they live long, yet shall they be nothing regarded: and their last age shall be without honour.

17 Et si quidem longæ vitæ erunt, in nihilum computabuntur,
et sine honore erit novissima senectus illorum:

18 Or, if they die quickly, they have no hope, neither comfort in the day of trial.

18 et si celerius defuncti fuerint, non habebunt spem,
nec in die agnitionis allocutionem.

19 For horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation.

19 Nationis enim iniquæ diræ sunt consummationes.