德训篇 43

1The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.

2The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High.

3At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:

4The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes.

5Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.

6And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.

7From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.

8The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection.

9Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the Armament of heaven.

10The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.

11By the words of the holy one they shall stand in judgment, and shall never fail in their watches.

12Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.

13It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.

14By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.

15Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.

16By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.

17At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.

18The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:

19And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.

20The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.

21He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.

22The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.

23And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.

24A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.

25At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.

26Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.

27There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.

28Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.

29We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.

30What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.

31The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.

32Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.

33Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can: for he is above all praise.

34When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.

35Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?

36There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of his works.

37But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath given wisdom.

1[Altitudinis firmamentum pulchritudo ejus est, species cæli in visione gloriæ.

2Sol in aspectu annuntians in exitu, vas admirabile, opus Excelsi.

3In meridiano exurit terram, et in conspectu ardoris ejus quis poterit sustinere? fornacem custodiens in operibus ardoris:

4tripliciter sol exurens montes, radios igneos exsufflans, et refulgens radiis suis obcæcat oculos.

5Magnus Dominus qui fecit illum, et in sermonibus ejus festinavit iter.]

6[Et luna in omnibus in tempore suo, ostensio temporis, et signum ævi.

7A luna signum diei festi: luminare quod minuitur in consummatione.

8Mensis secundum nomen ejus est, crescens mirabiliter in consummatione.

9Vas castrorum in excelsis, in firmamento cæli resplendens gloriose.

10Species cæli gloria stellarum: mundum illuminans in excelsis Dominus.

11In verbis Sancti stabunt ad judicium, et non deficient in vigiliis suis.]

12[Vide arcum, et benedic eum qui fecit illum: valde speciosus est in splendore suo.

13Gyravit cælum in circuitu gloriæ suæ: manus Excelsi aperuerunt illum.

14Imperio suo acceleravit nivem, et accelerat coruscationes emittere judicii sui.

15Propterea aperti sunt thesauri, et evolaverunt nebulæ sicut aves.

16In magnitudine sua posuit nubes, et confracti sunt lapides grandinis.

17In conspectu ejus commovebuntur montes, et in voluntate ejus aspirabit notus.

18Vox tonitrui ejus verberavit terram, tempestas aquilonis, et congregatio spiritus:

19et sicut avis deponens ad sedendum, aspergit nivem, et sicut locusta demergens descensus ejus.

20Pulchritudinem candoris ejus admirabitur oculus, et super imbrem ejus expavescet cor.

21Gelu sicut salem effundet super terram: et dum gelaverit, fiet tamquam cacumina tribuli.

22Frigidus ventus aquilo flavit, et gelavit crystallus ab aqua: super omnem congregationem aquarum requiescet, et sicut lorica induet se aquis:

23et devorabit montes, et exuret desertum, et extinguet viride, sicut igne.

24Medicina omnium in festinatione nebulæ: et ros obvians ab ardore venienti humilem efficiet eum.

25In sermone ejus siluit ventus, et cogitatione sua placavit abyssum: et plantavit in illa Dominus insulas.

26Qui navigant mare enarrent pericula ejus, et audientes auribus nostris admirabimur.

27Illic præclara opera et mirabilia, varia bestiarum genera, et omnium pecorum, et creatura belluarum.

28Propter ipsum confirmatus est itineris finis, et in sermone ejus composita sunt omnia.]

29[Multa dicemus, et deficiemus in verbis: consummatio autem sermonum ipse est in omnibus.

30Gloriantes ad quid valebimus? ipse enim omnipotens super omnia opera sua.

31Terribilis Dominus, et magnus vehementer, et mirabilis potentia ipsius.

32Glorificantes Dominum quantumcumque potueritis, supervalebit enim adhuc: et admirabilis magnificentia ejus.

33Benedicentes Dominum, exaltate illum quantum potestis: major enim est omni laude.

34Exaltantes eum, replemini virtute, ne laboretis, non enim comprehendetis.

35Quis videbit eum et enarrabit? et quis magnificabit eum sicut est ab initio?

36Multa abscondita sunt majora his: pauca enim vidimus operum ejus.

37Omnia autem Dominus fecit, et pie agentibus dedit sapientiam.]

1The firmament on high is his beauty; it is the beauty of heaven in a vision of glory.

2The sun, at its appearance, announces its journey; it is an instrument of wonder, a work of the Most High.

3At midday, it scorches the earth. And in the presence of its heat, who would be able to endure? It is like the custodian of a furnace in its works of heat.

4In three ways, the sun acts: scorching the mountains, emitting fiery rays, and shining with its beams that can blind the eyes.

5Great is the Lord who made it, and at his word, it hurries on its journey.

6And the moon, in all its phases, serves to mark the seasons and to be a sign of the times.

7From the moon is the sign of a feast day; it is a light which diminishes at its consummation.

8A month is named according to its phases, increasing wonderfully at its culmination.

9It is an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven.

10The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord illuminates the world from on high.

11At the words of the Holy One, they stand for judgment, and they will never fail in their vigilance.

12Consider the rainbow, and bless the One who made it; it is very beautiful in its splendor.

13It encompasses the heavens with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High made it appear.

14By his order, he hastens the snow, and he spurs on the lightning to express his judgment.

15In like manner, his storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.

16By his greatness, he has positioned the clouds, and the hailstones have been broken.

17At his glance, the mountains will be shaken, and by his will, the south wind will blow.

18The voice of his thunder will reverberate through the earth, by a storm from the north, and by a gathering of the whirlwind.

19And like the birds landing in a flock upon the earth, he sends down the snow; and its descent is like the arrival of a swarm of locusts.

20The eye is in wonder at the beauty of its whiteness, and the heart is astonished at its falling.

21He will pour out frost like salt upon the earth. And when it freezes, it will become like the tops of thistles.

22The cold north wind blows, and the water freezes into crystals; it will rest upon every gathering of water, and it will clothe the water like a breastplate.

23And it will devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and extinguish the greenery, like a fire.

24Relief for all is in the hurried arrival of a cloud. And the lowly dew will arrive to meet the heat and overpower it.

25At his word, the wind grows quiet, and by his thought, he appeases the abyss, for the Lord has planted islands in it.

26Let those who navigate the sea describe its perils. And when we have heard it with our ears, we will wonder.

27There are illustrious and wondrous works: the various kinds of wild animals, and all manner of cattle, and the great creatures of the sea.

28Through him, the end of their journey is confirmed, and by his word, all things fit together.

29We can say much, and yet still lack for words. But the consummation of our words is this: He is in all things.

30What would we be able to do to glorify him? For the Almighty himself is above all his own works.

31The Lord is terrible, and exceedingly great, and his power is wonderful.

32Glorify the Lord as much as you are able, yet still he will far exceed this. For his magnificence is beyond wonder.

33Bless the Lord and exalt him, as much as you are able. But he is beyond all praise.

34When you exalt him, use all your ability, and do not cease in this labor. For you can never comprehend him.

35Who will see him and explain? And who will magnify him, as he is from the beginning?

36There are many things, hidden from us, which are greater than these things. For we have seen but a few of his works.

37But the Lord has made all things, and he has given wisdom to those who act with piety.