Man's wit and reason is not able to understand the counsel and judgement of God, 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations, 33. nor of times, and things to come.Mans witte and reason is not able to vnderstand the counsel and iudgement of God, 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations, 33. nor of times, and thinges to come.
And the Angel answered me, that was sent to me, whose name was Uriel,AND the Angel answered me, that was sent to me, whose name was Vriel,Et respondit ad me angelus, qui missus est ad me, cui nomen Uriel,
2and said to me: Thy heart exceeding hath exceeded in this world, and thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest.and sayd to me: Thy hart exceding hath exceeded in this world, & thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest.et dixit mihi, Excedens excessit cor tuum in sæculo hoc, et comprehendere cogitas viam Altissimi.
3And I said: It is so my Lord. And he answered me, and said: I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to propose to thee three similitudes.And I sayd: It is so my Lord. And he answered me, & sayd: I am sent to shew thee three wayes, & to propose to thee three similitudes.Et dixi : Ita Domine meus. Et respondit mihi, et dixit : Tres vias missus sum ostendere tibi, et tres similitudines proponere coram te.
4Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them, I also will shew thee the way which thou desirest to see, and will teach thee whence a wicked heart is.Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them, I also wil shew thee the way which thou desirest to see, and wil teach thee whence a wicked hart is.de quibus mihi si renuntiaveris unam ex his, et ego tibi demonstrabo viam, quam desideras videre, et docebo te, unde sit cor malignum.
5And I said, Speak my Lord. And he said to me: Go, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me back the day that is past.And I sayd, Speake my Lord. And he sayd to me: Goe, wey me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the winde, or cal me backe the day that is past.Et dixi : Loquere Domine meus. Et dixit ad me : Vade pondera mihi ignis pondus, aut mensura mihi flatum venti, aut revoca mihi diem, quæ præteriit.
6And I answered, and said: what man born can do it, that thou askest me of these things?And I answered, and sayd: what man borne can doe it, that thou askest me of these thinges?Et respondi, et dixi : Quis natorum poterit facere, ut me interroges de his ?
7And he said to me: If I should ask thee, saying: How great habitations are there in the heart of the sea, or how great veins be there in the beginning of the depth, or how great veins be there above the firmament, and what are the issues of paradise:And he sayd to me: If I should aske thee, saying: How great habitations are there in the hart of the sea, or how great vaines be there in the beginning of the depth, or how great vaines be there aboue the firmament, and what are the issues of paradise:Et dixit ad me : Si essem interrogans te, dicens : Quantæ habitationes sunt in corde maris, aut quantæ venæ sunt in principio abyssi, aut quantæ venæ sunt super firmamentum, aut qui sunt exitus paradisi :
8thou wouldest perhaps say to me: I have not descended into the depth, nor into hell as yet, neither have I ascended at any time into heaven.thou wouldest perhaps say to me: I haue not descended into the depth, nor into hel as yet, neither haue I ascended at anie time into heauen.diceres mihi fortassis, in abyssum non descendi, neque in infernum adhuc, neque in cælum umquam ascendi.
9But now I have not asked thee, nisi: except, but only of the fire, and the wind, and the day by the which thou hast passed, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and thou hast not answered me of them.But now I haue not asked thee, sauing of the fire, and the winde, and the day by the which thou hast passed, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and thou hast not answered me of them.Nunc autem non interrogavi te, nisi de igne, et vento, et die, per quem transisti, et a quibus separari non potes : et non respondisti mihi de eis.
10And he said to me: Thou canst not know the things that are thine which grow together with thee:And he sayd to me: Thou canst not know the thinges that are thine which grow together with thee:Et dixit mihi : Tu quæ tua sunt, tecum coadolescentia, non potes cognoscere :
11and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest, and now the world being outwardly corrupted, understand the corruption evident in my sight:and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest, and now the world being outwardly corrupted, vnderstand the corruption euident in my sight:et quomodo poterit vas tuum capere Altissimi viam, et jam exterius corrupto sæculo intelligere corruptionem evidentem in facie mea ?
12I said to him: Better were it for us not to be, then yet living to live in impieties, and to suffer, and not to understand for what thing.I sayd to him: Better were it for vs not to be, then yet liuing to liue in impieties, and to suffer, and not to vnderstand for what thing.Et dixi illi : Melius erat nos non esse, quam adhuc viventes vivere in impietatibus, et pati, et non intelligere de qua re.
13And he answered me, and said: Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the field, and they devised a device,And he answered me, & said: Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the filde, and they deuised a deuise,Et respondit ad me, et dixit : Proficiscens profectus sum ad silvam lignorum campi, et cogitaverunt cogitationem.
14and said: Come and let us go, and make war against the sea, that it may retire back before us, and we may make us other woods.and sayd: Come and let vs goe, and make warre against the sea, that it may retyre backe before vs, and we may make vs other woodes.Et dixerunt : Venite et eamus, et faciamus ad mare bellum, ut recedat coram nobis, et faciamus nobis alias silvas.
15And in like manner the waves of the sea they also devised a device, and said: Come let us go up, let us overthrow the woods of the field, that there also we may consummemus: complete, bring to a full end another country for our selves.And in like maner the waues of the sea they also deuised a deuise, and sayd: Come let vs goe vp, let vs ouerthrow the woodes of the filde, that there also we may consummate an other countrie for our selues.Et similiter fluctus maris et ipsi cogitaverunt cogitationem, et dixerunt : Venite ascendentes, debellemus silvas campi, ut et ibi consummemus nobismetipsis aliam regionem.
16And the woods device was made vain, for fire came, and consumed it.And the woodes deuise was made vaine, for fire came, and consumed it.Et factus est cogitatus silvæ in vanum, venit enim ignis, et consumpsit eam.
17Likewise also the device of the waves of the sea. For the sand stood, and stayed them.Likewise also the deuise of the waues of the sea. For the sand stood, & stayed them.Similiter et cogitatus fluctuum maris, stetit enim arena, et prohibuit eos.
18For if thou wert judge of these, whom wouldest thou begin to justify, or whom to condemn?For if thou wert iudge of these, whom wouldest thou begin to iustifie, or whom to condemne?Si enim esses judex horum, quem inciperes justificare, aut quem condemnare ?
19And I answered, and said: Verily they devised a vain device. For the earth is given to the wood, and a place to the sea to carry her waves.And I answered, and sayd: Verely they deuised a vayne deuise. For the earth is geuen to the wood, and a place to the sea to carie her waues.Et respondi, et dixi : Utique vanam cogitationem cogitaverunt. Terra enim data est silvæ, et mari locus portare fluctus suos.
20And he answered me, and said: Thou hast judged well, and why hast thou not judged for thy self?And he answered me, and sayd: Thou hast iudged wel, and why hast thou not iudged for thy self?Et respondit ad me, et dixit : Bene tu judicasti, et quare non judicasti tibimetipsi ?
21For as the earth is given to the wood, and the sea for the waves thereof: so they that inhabit upon the earth, can understand only the things that are upon the earth: and they upon the heavens, the things that are above the height of the heavens.For as the earth is geuen to the wood, and the sea for the waues therof: so they that inhabite vpon the earth, can vnderstand onlie the thinges that are vpon the earth: and they vpon the heauens, the thinges that are aboue the height of the heauens.Quemadmodum enim terra silvæ data est, et mare fluctibus suis : sic qui super terram inhabitant, quæ sunt super terram intelligere solummodo possunt : et qui super cælos quæ super altitudinem cælorum.
22And I answered, and said: I beseech thee Lord, that sense may be given me to understand.And I answered, and sayd: I besech thee Lord, that sense may be geuen me to vnderstand.Et respondi, et dixi : Deprecor te Domine, ut mihi detur sensus intelligendi.
23For I meant not to ask of thy superior things, but of those that pass by us daily. For what cause Israel is given into reproach to the gentiles, the people whom thou hast loved, is given to impious tribes, and the law of our fathers is brought to destruction, and the written ordinances are no where:For I meant not to aske of thy superiour thinges, but of those that passe by vs dayly. For what cause Israel is geuen into reproche to the gentiles, the people whom thou hast loued, is geuen to impious tribes, & the law of our fathers is brought to destruction, & the written ordinances are no where:Non enim volui interrogare de superioribus tuis, sed de his quæ pertranseunt per nos quotidie. Propter quid Israël datus in opprobrium gentibus, quem dilexisti populum, datus est tribubus impiis, et lex patrum nostrorum in interitum deducta est, et dispositiones scriptæ nusquam sunt :
24and we have passed out of the world, as locusts, and our life is stupor: dismay, stupefied dread and dread, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.and we haue passed out of the world, as locustes, and our life is astonishment and dreade, and we are not worthie to obtaine mercie.et pertransivimus de sæculo, ut locustæ, et vita nostra stupor et pavor, et nec digni sumus misericordiam consequi.
25But what will he do to his name that is invocated upon us? and of these things I did ask.But what wil he doe to his name that is inuocated vpon vs? and of these thinges I did aske.Sed quid faciet nomini suo quod invocatum est super nos ? et de his interrogavi.
26And he answered me, and said: If thou search very much, thou shalt often marvel: because the world hastening hasteneth to pass,And he answered me, and sayd: If thou search very much, thou shalt often meruail: because the world hastening hasteneth to passe,Et respondit ad me, et dixit : Si fueris plurimum scrutatus, frequenter miraberis : quoniam festinans festinat sæculum pertransire,
27and can not comprehend the things which in times to come are promised to the just: because this world is full of injustice and infirmities.and can not comprehend the thinges which in times to come are promised to the iust: because this world is ful of iniustice and infirmities.et non capit portare, quæ in futuris temporibus justis repromissa sunt : quoniam plenum iniustitia est sæculum hoc et infirmitatibus.
28But concerning the things that thou demandest I will tell thee: for the evil is sowed, and the destruction thereof is not yet come.But concerning the thinges that thou demandest I wil tel thee: for the euil is sowed, and the destruction therof is not yet come.De quibus autem interrogas, dicam : seminatum enim est malum, et necdum venit destructio ipsius.
29If then that which is sown be not turned up, and the place depart where the evil is sown, that shall not come where the good is sown.If then that which is sowen be not turned vp, and the place depart where the euil is sowen, that shal not come where the good is sowen.Si ergo non inversum fuerit quod seminatum est, et discesserit locus ubi seminatum est malum, non veniet ubi seminatum est bonum.
30Because the grain of ill seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning: and how much impiety hath it engendered until now, and doth engender until the floor come?Because the grayne of il seede hath bene sowen in the hart of Adam from the beginning: and how much impietie hath it ingendered vntil now, and doth ingender vntil the floore come?Quoniam gramen seminis mali seminatum est in corde Adam ab initio : et quantum impietatis generavit usque nunc, et generat usque cum veniat area ?
31And esteem with thy self the grain of the ill seed, how much fruit of impiety it hath engendered:And esteme with thy self the graine of the il seede, how much fruite of impietie it hath ingendred:Æstima autem apud te gramen mali seminis, quantum fructum impietatis generavit :
32When the ears shall be cut, which are innumerable, what a great floor will they begin to make?When the eares shal be cut, which are innumerable, what a great floore wil they begin to make?quando secatæ fuerint spicæ, quarum non est numerus, quam magnam aream incipient facere ?
33And I answered, and said: How, and when shall these things be? why are our years few and evil?And I answered, and sayd: How, and when shal these things be? why are our yeares few and euil?Et respondi et dixi : Quomodo, et quando hæc ? Quare modici et mali anni nostri ?
34And he answered me, and said to me, Hasten not above the Highest. For thou doest hasten in vain to be above him, for thy excess is much.And he answered me, and sayd to me, Hasten not aboue the Highest. For thou doest hasten in vaine to be aboue him, for thy excesse is much.Et respondit ad me, et dixit mihi : Non festines tu super Altissimum. Tu enim festinas inaniter esse super ipsum. Nam excessus tuus multus.
35Did not the souls of the just in their cellars, ask of these things, saying: How hope I so, and when shall the fruit come of the floor of our reward?Did not the soules of the iust in their cellars, aske of these things, saying: How hope I so, and when shal the fruite come of the floore of our reward?Nonne de his interrogaverunt animæ justorum in promptuariis suis, dicentes, Usquequo spero sic ? et quando veniet fructus areæ mercedis nostræ ?
36And Jeremiel the Archangel answered to those things, and said: When the number of the seeds in you shall be filled, because he hath weighed the world in a balance,And Ieremiel the Archangel answered to those things, and sayd: When the number of the sedes in you shal be filled, because he hath weyed the world in a balance,Et respondit ad ea Jeremiel archangelus, et dixit : Quando impletus fuerit numerus seminum in vobis, quoniam in statera ponderavit sæculum,
37and with a measure hath he measured the times, and in number he hath numbered the times, and hath not moved, nor stirred them, until the foresaid measure be filled.and with a measure hath he measured the times, and in number he hath numbered the times, and hath not moued, nor stirred them, vntil the foresayd measure be filled.et mensura mensuravit tempora, et numero numeravit tempora, et non commovit, nec excitavit usquedum impleatur prædicta mensura.
38And I answered, and said: O Lord Dominator, we also are all full of impiety.And I answered, and sayd: O Lord Dominatour, we also are al ful of impietie.Et respondi, et dixi : O dominator Domine, sed et nos omnes pleni sumus impietate.
39And lest perhaps for us the floors of the just be not filled, for the sins of the inhabitants upon the earth.And lest perhaps for vs the floores of the iust be not filled, for the sinnes of the inhabitantes vpon the earth.Et ne forte propter nos non impleantur justorum areæ, propter peccata inhabitantium super terram.
40And he answered me, and said: Go, and ask a woman with child, if when she hath accomplished her nine months, her womb can yet hold the infant within it?And he answered me, and sayd: Goe, and aske a woman with childe, if when she hath accomplished her nine monethes, her wombe can yet hold the infant within it?Et respondit ad me, et dixit : Vade et interroga prægnantem, si quando impleverit novem menses suos, adhuc poterit matrix ejus retinere partum in semetipsa ?
41And I said it can not Lord. And he said to me, in hell the cellars of the souls are like to the matrici: the womb.And I sayd it can not Lord. And he sayd to me, in hel the cellars of the soules are like to the matrice.Et dixi, Non potest Domine. Et dixit ad me, In inferno promptuaria animarum matrici assimilata sunt.
42For as she that is: In partus: the labour of childbirth maketh haste, to escape the necessity of travailing: so this also hasteneth to render those things which are commended to it.For as she that is: In trauail maketh hast, to escape the necessitie of trauailing: so this also hasteneth to render those thinges which are commended to it.Quemadmodum enim illa festinat quæ parit effugere necessitatem partus : sic et hæc festinat reddere ea quæ commendata sunt.
43From the beginning it shall be shewed thee touching those things, which thou doest covet to see.From the beginning it shal be shewed thee touching those thinges, which thou doest couet to see.Ab initio tibi demonstrabitur de his quæ concupiscis videre.
44And I answered, and said: If I have found grace before thine eyes, and if it be possible, and if I be fit,And I answered, and sayd: If I haue found grace before thine eyes, & if it be possible, and if I by fitte,Et respondi, et dixi : Si inveni gratiam ante oculos tuos : et si possibile est, et si idoneus sum,
45shew me if there be more to come then is passed, or more things have passed, then are to come.shew mee if there be more to come then is passed, or moe things haue passed, then are to come.demonstra mihi, si plusquam præteritum sit habet venire, aut plura pertransierunt supra quàm futurum est.
46What passed, I know: but what is to come, I know not.What passed, I know: but what is to come, I know not.Quid pertransivit, scio : quid autem futurum sit, ignoro.
47And he said to me: Stand upon the right side, and I will shew thee the interpretation of the similitude.And he sayd to me: Stand vpon the right side, and I wil shew thee the interpretation of the similitude.Et dixit ad me : Sta super dexteram partem, et demonstrabo tibi interpretationem similitudinis.
48And I stood, and saw: and behold a burning furnace passed before me, and it came to pass when the flame passed, I saw: and behold the smoke overcame.And I stood, and saw: and behold a burning fornace passed before me, & it came to passe when the flame passed, I saw: and behold the smoke ouercame.Et steti, et vidi : et ecce fornax ardens transiit coram me. Et factum est, cum transiret flamma, vidi, et ecce superavit fumus.
49After these things there passed before me a cloud full of water, and with violence casting in much rain: and when the violence of rain was cast, the drops therein overcame.After these thinges there passed before me a clowd ful of water, and with violence casting in much raine: and when the violence of raine was cast, the droppes therin ouercame.Post hæc transiit coram me nubes plena aquæ, et immisit pluviam impetu multam : et cum transiisset impetus pluviæ, superaverunt in ea guttæ.
50And he said to me: Think with thyself, as the rain increaseth more then the drops, and the fire then the smoke: so did the measure that passed, more abound. But the drops, and the smoke overcame:And he sayd to me: Thinke with thyself, as the raine increaseth more then the droppes, and the fire then the smoke: so did the measure that passed, more abound. But the droppes, and the smoke ouercame:Et dixit ad me : Cogita tibi sicut crescit pluvia amplius quàm guttæ, et ignis quàm fumus : sic superabundavit quæ transivit mensura. Superaverunt autem guttæ, et fumus :
51and I prayed, and said, shall I live thinkest thou until these days? or what shall be in those days?and I prayed, & sayd, shal I liue thinkest thou vntil these dayes? or what shal be in those dayes?et oravi, et dixi, Putas vivo usque in diebus illis ? vel quid erit in diebus illis ?
52He answered me, and said: Of the signs whereof thou askest me, in part I can tell thee, howbeit of thy life I was not sent to tell thee, neither do I know.He answered me, and sayd: Of the signes wherof thou askest me, in part I can tel thee, howbeit of thy life I was not sent to tel thee, neither doe I know.Respondit ad me, et dixit, De signis, de quibus me interrogas, ex parte possum tibi dicere : de vita autem tua non sum missus dicere tibi, sed nescio.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.