1 And now o Lord omnipotent, God of Israel, the soul in distresses, & the pensive spirit cryeth to thee:
1 And now, O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, the soul in anguish, and the troubled spirit crieth to thee:
2 hear Lord, and have mercy, because thou art a merciful God, & have mercy upon us: because we have sinned before thee.
2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for thou art a merciful God, and have pity on us: for we have sinned before thee.
3 Because thou sittest for ever, and shall we perish everlastingly?
3 For thou remainest forever, and shall we perish everlastingly?
4 O Lord omnipotent, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel, and of their children, that have sinned before thee, and have not heard the voice of the Lord their God, and evils have stuck fast to us.
4 O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel, and of their children, that have sinned before thee, and have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, wherefore evils have cleaved fast to us.
5 Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but remember thy hand, and thy name in this time:
5 Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but think upon thy hand, and upon thy name at this time:
6 because thou art the Lord our God, and we will praise thee o Lord:
6 For thou art the Lord our God, and we will praise thee, O Lord:
7 because for this end thou hast given thy fear in our hearts, and that we may invocate thy name, and may praise thee in our captivity, because we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, which have sinned before thee.
7 Because for this end thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity, for we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, who sinned before thee.
8 And behold we are in our captivity, this day, whereby thou hast dispersed us into reproach, and into malediction, and into sin, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which have revolted from thee o Lord our God.
8 And behold we are at this day in our captivity, whereby thou hast scattered us to be a reproach, and a curse, and an offence, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, who departed from thee, O Lord our God.
9 Hear Israel the commandments of life: harken with your ears, that you may know prudence.
9 Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: give ear, that thou mayst learn wisdom.
10 What is the matter Israel that thou art in the land of the enemies?
10 How happeneth it, O Israel, that thou art in thy enemies’ land?
11 Thou art waxen old in a strange land, thou art defiled with the dead: thou art reputed with them that go down into hell.
11 Thou art grown old in a strange country, thou art defiled with the dead: thou art counted with them that go down into hell.
12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom:
12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom:
13 for if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou hadst verily dwelt in peace everlasting.
13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou hadst surely dwelt in peace forever.
14 Learn where wisdom is, where strength is, where understanding is: that thou mayst know withal where is the long continuance of life and living, where the light of the eyes, and peace is.
14 Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding: that thou mayst know also where is length of days and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.
15 Who hath found the place thereof? and who hath entered into the treasures thereof?
15 Who hath found out her place? And who hath gone in to her treasures?
16 Where are the princes of the Gentiles, and they that rule over the beasts, that are upon the earth?
16 Where are the princes of the nations, and they that rule over the beasts that are upon the earth?
17 that play with the birds of the heaven,
17 That take their diversion with the birds of the air.
18 that treasure up silver, and gold, wherein men have confidence, and is there no end of their getting? which fashion silver & are careful, neither is there invention of their works?
18 That hoard up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and there is no end of their getting? Who work in silver and are solicitous, and their works are unsearchable.
19 They are destroyed, and are gone down to hell, and others are risen up in their place.
19 They are cut off, and are gone down to hell, and others are risen up in their place.
20 Young men saw the light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of discipline they knew not,
20 Young men have seen the light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge they have not known,
21 neither understood they the paths thereof, neither have their children received it, it is made far from their face.
21 Nor have they understood the paths thereof, neither have their children received it, it is far from their face.
22 It hath not been heard in the Land of Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman.
22 It hath not been heard of in the land of Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman.
23 The children of Agar also, that seek out the prudence, that is of the earth, merchants of Merrhe, and of Theman, and fablers, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered the paths thereof.
23 The children of Agar also, that search after the wisdom that is of the earth, the merchants of Merrha, and of Theman, and the tellers of fables, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered her paths.
24 O Israel how great is the house of God, and how great is the place of his possession!
24 O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the place of his possession!
25 It is great, and hath no end: high and unmeasurable.
25 It is great, and hath no end: it is high and immense.
26 There were the giants those renowned, that were from the beginning, of big stature, expert in war?
26 There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the beginning, of great stature, expert in war.
27 These did not our Lord choose, neither found they the way of discipline: therefore did they perish.
27 The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of knowledge: therefore did they perish.
28 And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their folly.
28 And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their folly.
29 Who hath ascended into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?
29 Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?
30 Who hath passed over the sea, and found her, and brought her above chosen gold?
30 Who hath passed over the sea, and found her, and brought her preferably to chosen gold?
31 There is none that can know her ways, nor that can search out her paths:
31 There is none that is able to know her ways, nor that can search out her paths:
32 but he that knoweth all things, knoweth her, & hath found her out by his prudence: he hath prepared the earth in time everlasting, and replenished it with cattle, and fourfooted beasts:
32 But he that knoweth all things, knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore, and filled it with cattle and fourfooted beasts:
33 he that sendeth forth light, and it goeth: and hath called it, and it obeyeth him with trembling.
33 He that sendeth forth the light, and it goeth: and hath called it, and it obeyeth him with trembling.
34 And the stars have given light in their watches, and rejoiced:
34 And the stars have given light in their watches, and rejoiced:
35 they were called, and they said: here we are: and they have shined to him with cheerfulness, that made them.
35 They were called, and they said: Here we are: and with cheerfulness they have shined forth to him that made them.
36 This is our God, and there shall none other be esteemed against him.
36 This is our God, and there shall no other be accounted of in comparison of him.
37 He found out all the way of discipline, and delivered it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.
37 He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.
38 After these things he was seen upon the earth, and was conversant with men.
38 Afterwards he was seen upon earth, and conversed with men.