Wisdom Chapter 4

The difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations: and between the death of the just and the wicked.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.
2 When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts.
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 a time, yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
5 For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing.
6 For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
7 But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest.
8 For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs.
9 And a spotless life is old age.
10 He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was translated.
11 He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
12 For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind.
13 Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time.
14 For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not, nor lay up such things in their hearts:
15 That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect to his chosen.
16 But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.
17 For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety.
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.
20 They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (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.
2 Cum præsens est, imitantur illam,
et desiderant eam cum se eduxerit;
et in perpetuum coronata triumphat,
incoinquinatorum certaminum præmium vincens.
3 Multigena autem impiorum multitudo non erit utilis,
et spuria vitulamina non dabunt radices altas,
nec stabile firmamentum collocabunt.
4 Etsi in ramis in tempore germinaverint,
infirmiter posita, a vento commovebuntur,
et a nimietate ventorum eradicabuntur.
5 Confringentur enim rami inconsummati;
et fructus illorum inutiles et acerbi ad manducandum,
et ad nihilum apti.
6 Ex iniquis enim somnis filii qui nascuntur,
testes sunt nequitiæ adversus parentes in interrogatione sua.
7 Justus autem si morte præoccupatus fuerit,
in refrigerio erit;
8 senectus enim venerabilis est non diuturna,
neque annorum numero computata:
cani autem sunt sensus hominis,
9 et ætas senectutis vita immaculata.
10 Placens Deo factus est dilectus,
et vivens inter peccatores translatus est.
11 Raptus est, ne malitia mutaret intellectum ejus,
aut ne fictio deciperet animam illius.
12 Fascinatio enim nugacitatis obscurat bona,
et inconstantia concupiscentiæ transvertit sensum sine malitia.
13 Consummatus in brevi,
explevit tempora multa;
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,
15 quoniam gratia Dei et misericordia est in sanctos ejus,
et respectus in electos illius.
16 Condemnat autem justus mortuus vivos impios,
et juventus celerius consummata longam vitam injusti.
17 Videbunt enim finem sapientis,
et non intelligent quid cogitaverit de illo Deus,
et quare munierit illum Dominus.
18 Videbunt, et contemnent eum;
illos autem Dominus irridebit.
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.
20 Venient in cogitatione peccatorum suorum timidi,
et traducent illos ex adverso iniquitates ipsorum.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition