It is better to have none than many wicked children. Of the justice and mercy of God. His ways are unsearchable.

 1 Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.
Ne jucunderis in filiis impiis, si multiplicentur : nec oblecteris super ipsos, si non est timor Dei in illis.

 2 Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.
Non credas vitae illorum, et ne respexeris in labores eorum.

 3 For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.
Melior est enim unus timens Deum, quam mille filii impii :

 4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.
et utile est mori sine filiis, quam relinquere filios impios.

 5 By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.
Ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria : tribus impiorum deseretur.

 6 Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.
Multa talia vidit oculis meus, et fortiora horum audivit auris mea.

 7 In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out.
In synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis, et in gente incredibili exardescet ira.

 8 The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:
Non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antiqui gigantes, qui destructi sunt confidentes suae virtuti.

 9 And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.
Et non pepercit peregrinationi Lot, et execratus est eos prae superbia verbi illorum.

 10 He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.
Non misertus est illis, gentem totam perdens, et extollentem se in peccatis suis.

 11 So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:
Et sicut sexcenta millia peditum, qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui : et si unus fuisset cervicatus, mirum si fuisset immunis.

 12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:
Misericordia enim et ira est cum illo : potens exoratio, et effundens iram.

 13 According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.
Secundum misericordiam suam, sic correptio illius homines secundum opera sua judicat.

 14 The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.
Non effugiet in rapina peccator, et non retardabit sufferentia misericordiam facientis.

 15 All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.
Omnis misericordia faciet locum unicuique, secundum meritum operum suorum, et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius.

 16 Say not: I shall be hidden from God, and who shall remember me from on high?
Non dicas : A Deo abscondar : et ex summo, quis mei memorabitur?

 17 In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?
in populo magno non agnoscar : quae est enim anima mea in tam immensa creatura?

 18 Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,
Ecce caelum et caeli caelorum, abyssus, et universa terra, et quae in eis sunt, in conspectu illius commovebuntur.

 19 The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.
Montes simul, et colles, et fundamenta terrae, cum conspexerit illa Deus, tremore concutientur.

 20 And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him:
Et in omnibus his insensatum est cor, et omne cor intelligitur ab illo.

 21 And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see?
Et vias illius quis intelligit, et procellam quam nec oculus videbit hominis?

 22 For many of his works are hidden: but the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.
Nam plurima illius opera sunt in absconsis : sed opera justitiae ejus quis enuntiabit, aut quis sustinebit? longe enim est testamentum a quibusdam, et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est.

 23 He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
Qui minoratur corde cogitat inania, et vir imprudens et errans cogitat stulta.

 24 Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.
Audi me, fili, et disce disciplinam sensus, et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo :

 25 And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.
et dicam in aequitate disciplinam, et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam : et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo, et dico in aequitate spiritus virtutes quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio, et in veritate enuntio scientiam ejus.

 26 The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.
In judicio Dei opera ejus ab initio, et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum, et initia eorum in gentibus suis.

 27 He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.
Ornavit in aeternum opera illorum : nec esurierunt, nec laboraverunt, et non destiterunt ab operibus suis.

 28 Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.
Unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiabit in aeternum :

 29 Be not thou incredulous to his word.
non sis incredibilis verbo illius.

 30 After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.
Post haec Deus in terram respexit, et implevit illam bonis suis :

 31 The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.
anima omnis vitalis denuntiavit ante faciem ipsius, et in ipsam iterum reversio illorum.