A Canticle of the Law, wherein the people are exhorted to serve God, for his perfect goodness, for his singular benefits, for their former ingratitude, and for his mercy still mixed with his punishments. 44. All which earnestly commended to them to remember and teach their children, 48. Moyses is commanded to go into a mountain, whence he shall see the promised land, but not enter into it.A Canticle of the Law, wherein the people are exhorted to serue God, for his perfect goodnes, for his singular benefites, for their former ingratitude, and for his mercie stil mixed with his punishmentes. 44. Al which earnestly commended to them to remember and teach their children, 48. Moyses is commanded to goe into a mountaine, whence he shal see the promised land, but not enter into it.
Hear ye heavens what things I speak, the earth hear the words of my mouth.HEARE ye heauens what thinges I speake, the earth heare the wordes of my mouth.Audite, cæli, quæ loquor : audiat terra verba oris mei.
2My doctrine grow together as rain, my speech flow as the dew, as it were a shower upon the herb, and as it were drops upon the grass.My doctrine grow together as raine, my speach flow as the dew, as it were a shower vpon the herbe, and as it were droppes vpon the grasse.Concrescat ut pluvia doctrina mea, fluat ut ros eloquium meum, quasi imber super herbam, et quasi stillæ super gramina.
3I will call upon, proclaim aloud · Vulgate: *invocabo* the name of our Lord: give magnificence to our God.I wil inuocate the name of our Lord: geue magnificence to our God.Quia nomen Domini invocabo : date magnificentiam Deo nostro.
4The works of God be perfect, and all his ways judgments: God is faithful, and without any iniquity, just and right.The workes of God be perfect, and al his waies iudgementes: God is faithful, and without any iniquitie, iust and right.Dei perfecta sunt opera, et omnes viæ ejus judicia : Deus fidelis, et absque ulla iniquitate, justus et rectus.
5They have sinned to him, and not his children in filthiness: a perverse, stubbornly contrary · Vulgate: *prava* and perverse generation.They haue sinned to him, and not his children in filthines: a froward and peruerse generation.Peccaverunt ei, et non filii ejus in sordibus : generatio prava atque perversa.
6These things doest thou render to our Lord thou foolish and unwise people? Is not he thy father, that hath possessed thee, and made, and created thee?These thinges doest thou render to our Lord thou foolish and vnwise people? Is not he thy father, that hath possessed thee, and made, and created thee?Hæccine reddis Domino, popule stulte et insipiens ? numquid non ipse est pater tuus, qui possedit te, et fecit, et creavit te ?
7Remember the old days, think upon every generation: ask thy father, and he will declare to thee: thy elders, and they will tell thee.Remember the old daies, thinke vpon euerie generation: aske thy father, and he wil declare to thee: thy elders, and they wil tel thee.Memento dierum antiquorum, cogita generationes singulas : interroga patrem tuum, et annuntiabit tibi : majores tuos, et dicent tibi.
8When the highest divided the nations: when he separated the sons of Adam, he appointed the limits of people according to the number of the children of Israel.When the highest diuided the nations: when he separated the sonnes of Adam, he appointed the limites of people according to the number of the children of Israel.Quando dividebat Altissimus gentes, quando separabat filios Adam, constituit terminos populorum juxta numerum filiorum Israël.
9But our Lord's part, is his people: Jacob the not a rope nor cordon: a measuring-line, hence the portion measured out, the allotted inheritance · Vulgate: *funiculus* of his inheritance.But our Lords part, is his people: Iacob the corde of his inheritance.Pars autem Domini, populus ejus : Jacob funiculus hæreditatis ejus.
10He found him in a desert land, in a place of horror, and of waste wilderness: he led him about, and taught him: and kept him as the apple of his eye.He found him in a desert land, in a place of horrour, and of wast wildernes: he ledde him about, and taught him: and kept him as the apple of his eye.Invenit eum in terra deserta, in loco horroris, et vastæ solitudinis : circumduxit eum, et docuit : et custodivit quasi pupillam oculi sui.
11As the eagle provoking her young to fly, and hovering over them, hath he spread his wings, and he hath taken him, and carried him on his shoulders.As the eagle prouoking her young to flie, and houering ouer them, hath he spred his winges, and he hath taken him, and caried him on his shoulders.Sicut aquila provocans ad volandum pullos suos, et super eos volitans, expandit alas suas, et assumpsit eum, atque portavit in humeris suis.
12Our Lord only was his guide: and there was not with him a strange God.Our Lord onlie was his guide: and there was not with him a strange God.Dominus solus dux ejus fuit, et non erat cum eo deus alienus :
13He placed him over an high land: that he might eat the fruits of the fields, that he might suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the hardest stone.He placed him ouer an high land: that he might eate the fruites of the fieldes, that he might sucke honie out of the rocke, and oile out of the hardest stone.constituit eum super excelsam terram, ut comederet fructus agrorum : ut sugeret mel de petra, oleumque de saxo durissimo ;
14Butter from the herd, and milk of the sheep with the fat of lambs, and of rams the sons of Basan: and buck goats with the the innermost, choicest part: here the finest of the wheat · Vulgate: *medulla* of wheat, and might drink the blood of the grape most pure.Butter from the heard, and milke of the sheepe with the fatte of lambes, and of rammes the sonnes of Basan: and bucke goates with the marow of wheate, and might drinke the bloud of the grape most pure.butyrum de armento, et lac de ovibus cum adipe agnorum, et arietum filiorum Basan : et hircos cum medulla tritici, et sanguinem uvæ biberet meracissimum.
15The beloved was made not coarse nor vulgar: grown thick and fat · Vulgate: *incrassatus*, and kicked back, rebelled · Vulgate: *recalcitravit*: made gross, fatted, dilated, he left God his maker, and departed from God his salvation.The beloued was made grosse, and spurned: made grosse, fatted, dilated, he left God his maker, and departed from God his saluation.Incrassatus est dilectus, et recalcitravit : incrassatus, impinguatus, dilatatus, dereliquit Deum factorem suum, et recessit a Deo salutari suo.
16They provoked him in strange gods, and in abominations stirred him to anger.They prouoked him in strange goddes, and in abominations stirred him to anger.Provocaverunt eum in diis alienis, et in abominationibus ad iracundiam concitaverunt.
17They sacrificed, slew as victims · Vulgate: *immolaverunt* to devils and not to God, to gods which they knew not: there came new & fresh ones, whom their fathers worshipped not.They immolated to diuels and not to God, to goddes which they knew not: there came new & fresh ones, whom their fathers worshipped not.Immolaverunt dæmoniis et non Deo, diis quos ignorabant : novi recentesque venerunt, quos non coluerunt patres eorum :
18God that begat thee thou hast forsaken, and hast forgotten our Lord thy creator.God that begatte thee thou hast forsaken, and hast forgotten our Lord thy creatour.Deum qui te genuit dereliquisti, et oblitus es Domini creatoris tui.
19Our Lord saw, and was moved to wrath: because his sons and daughters provoked him.Our Lord saw, and was moued to wrath: because his sonnes and daughters prouoked him.Vidit Dominus, et ad iracundiam concitatus est : quia provocaverunt eum filii sui et filiæ.
20And he said: I will hide my face from them, and will consider their their latter end, what shall befall them at the last · Vulgate: *novissima*: for it is a perverse generation, and unfaithful children.And he said: I wil hide my face from them, and wil consider their last: for it is a peruerse generation, and vnfaithful children.Et ait : Abscondam faciem meam ab eis, et considerabo novissima eorum : generatio enim perversa est, et infideles filii.
21They have provoked me in that, which was no God, and have angered me in their vanities: and I will provoke them in that, which is no people, and in a foolish nation will I anger them.They haue prouoked me in that, which was no God, and haue angred me in their vanities: and I wil prouoke them in that, which is no people, and in a foolish nation wil I anger them.Ipsi me provocaverunt in eo qui non erat Deus, et irritaverunt in vanitatibus suis : et ego provocabo eos in eo qui non est populus, et in gente stulta irritabo illos.
22A fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest parts of Vulgate: *inferni*: the nether regions below, the depths: and shall devour the earth with her spring, and shall burn the foundations of mountains.A fyre is kindled in my wrath, and shal burne euen to the lowest partes of hel: and shal deuoure the earth with her spring, and shal burne the foundations of mountaines.Ignis succensus est in furore meo, et ardebit usque ad inferni novissima : devorabitque terram cum germine suo, et montium fundamenta comburet.
23I will heap evils upon them, and mine arrows I will spend in them.I wil heape euils vpon them, and myne arrowes I wil spend in them.Congregabo super eos mala, et sagittas meas complebo in eis.
24They shall be consumed with famine, and birds shall devour them with most bitter biting: the teeth of beasts will I send upon them, with the fury of those that trail upon the ground, and creep.They shal be consumed with famine, and birdes shal deuoure them with most bitter biting: the teeth of beastes wil I send vpon them, with the furie of those that traile vpon the ground, and creepe.Consumentur fame, et devorabunt eos aves morsu amarissimo : dentes bestiarum immittam in eos, cum furore trahentium super terram, atque serpentium.
25Without shall the sword devour them, & within fearfulness, the young man and the virgin together, the sucking child with the old man.Without shal the sword deuoure them, & within fearfulnes, the young man and the virgin together, the sucking child with the old man.Foris vastabit eos gladius, et intus pavor, juvenem simul ac virginem, lactentem cum homine sene.
26I said: Where are they? I will make their memory to cease from among men.I said: Where are they? I wil make their memorie to cease from among men.Dixi : Ubinam sunt ? cessare faciam ex hominibus memoriam eorum.
27But for the wrath of the enemies I have deferred: perhaps their enemies might be proud, and would say: Our mighty hand, and not the Lord, hath done all these things.But for the wrath of the enemies I haue differred: perhaps their enemies might be proude, and would say: Our mightie hand, and not the Lord, hath done al these thinges.Sed propter iram inimicorum distuli : ne forte superbirent hostes eorum, et dicerent : Manus nostra excelsa, et non Dominus, fecit hæc omnia.
28A nation without counsel is it, and without wisdom.A nation without counsel is it, and without wisedome.Gens absque consilio est, et sine prudentia.
29O that they were wise, and understood, and would provide for their last.O that they were wise, and vnderstoode, and would prouide for their last.Utinam saperent, et intelligerent, ac novissima providerent.
30How should one pursue a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight? was it not therefore, because their God sold them, and our Lord enclosed them?How should one pursew a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight? was it not therfore, because their God sold them, and our Lord inclosed them?Quomodo persequatur unus mille, et duo fugent decem millia ? nonne ideo, quia Deus suus vendidit eos, et Dominus conclusit illos ?
31For our Lord is not as their gods: our enemies also are judges.For our Lord is not as their goddes: our enemies also are iudges.Non enim est Deus noster ut dii eorum : et inimici nostri sunt judices.
32Of the vineyard of Sodom, is their vineyard, and of the suburbs of Gomorrha: their grape the grape of gall, and the clusters most bitter.Of the vineyard of Sodom, is their vineyard, and of the suburbes of Gomorrha: their grape the grape of gall, and the clusters most bitter.De vinea Sodomorum, vinea eorum, et de suburbanis Gomorrhæ : uva eorum, uva fellis, et botri amarissimi.
33The gall of dragons their wine, and the venom of asps incurable.The gall of dragons their wine, and the venime of Aspes vncurable.Fel draconum vinum eorum, et venenum aspidum insanabile.
34Are not these things laid up with me, and not a signature: sealed up · Vulgate: *signata* in my treasures?Are not these thinges laid vp with me, and signed in my treasures?Nonne hæc condita sunt apud me, et signata in thesauris meis ?
35Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in time, that their foot may slide: the day of perdition is at hand, and the times make haste to be present.Reuenge is myne, and I wil repay them in time, that their foote may slide: the day of perdition is at hand, and the times make hast to be present.Mea est ultio, et ego retribuam in tempore, ut labatur pes eorum : juxta est dies perditionis, et adesse festinant tempora.
36Our Lord will judge his people, and will have mercy on his servants: he shall see that their hand is weakened, and the shut up also have failed, and the residue be consumed.Our Lord wil iudge his people, and wil haue mercie on his seruantes: he shal see that their hand is weakened, and the shut vp also haue fayled, and the residew be consumed.Judicabit Dominus populum suum, et in servis suis miserebitur : videbit quod infirmata sit manus, et clausi quoque defecerunt, residuique consumpti sunt.
37And he shall say: Where are their gods, in whom they had confidence.And he shal say: Where are their goddes, in whom they had confidence.Et dicet : Ubi sunt dii eorum, in quibus habebant fiduciam ?
38Of whose victims they did eat fat, and drank the wine of their Vulgate: *libaminum*: drink-offerings, libations poured out: Let them arise, and help you, and protect you in necessity.Of whose victimes they did eate fatte, and dranke the wine of their libamentes: Let them arise, and help you, and protect you in necessitie.de quorum victimis comedebant adipes, et bibebant vinum libaminum : surgant, et opitulentur vobis, et in necessitate vos protegant.
39See ye that I am only, and there is no other God besides me: I will kill, and I will make to live: I will strike, and I will heal, and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.See ye that I am onlie, and there is no other God besides me: I wil kil, and I wil make to liue: I wil strike, and I wil heale, and there is none that can deliuer out of my hand.Videte quod ego sim solus, et non sit alius deus præter me : ego occidam, et ego vivere faciam : percutiam, et ego sanabo, et non est qui de manu mea possit eruere.
40I will lift up my hand to heaven, and will say: I live for ever.I wil lift vp my hand to heauen, and wil say: I liue for euer.Levabo ad cælum manum meam, et dicam : Vivo ego in æternum.
41If I shall sharpen · Vulgate: *acuero* my sword as the lightning, and my hand take judgment: I will repay vengeance to mine enemies, and them that hate me will I repay, pay back in kind · Vulgate: *retribuam*.If I shal whette my sword as the lightening, and my hand take iudgement: I wil repay vengeance to myne enemies, and them that hate me wil I requite.Si acuero ut fulgur gladium meum, et arripuerit judicium manus mea : reddam ultionem hostibus meis, et his qui oderunt me retribuam.
42I will drench, saturate: here, make sodden with blood · Vulgate: *inebriabo*: to make drunk mine arrows with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh, of the blood of the slain and of captivity, of the bare head of the enemies.I wil imbrew my arrowes with bloud, and my sword shal deuoure flesh, of the bloud of the slaine and of captiuitie, of the bare head of the enemies.Inebriabo sagittas meas sanguine, et gladius meus devorabit carnes ; de cruore occisorum et de captivitate, nudati inimicorum capitis.
43You Gentiles praise his people, because he will revenge the blood of his servants: and will repay vengeance upon their enemies, and will be propitious to the land of his people.You gentiles prayse his people, because he wil reuenge the bloud of his seruantes: and wil repay vengeance vpon their enemies, and wil be propitious to the land of his people.Laudate, gentes, populum ejus, quia sanguinem servorum suorum ulciscetur : et vindictam retribuet in hostes eorum, et propitius erit terræ populi sui.
44Moyses therefore came and spake all the words of this canticle in the ears of the people, he and Josue the son of Nun.Moyses therfore came and spake al the wordes of this canticle in the eares of the people, he and Iosue the sonne of Nun.Venit ergo Moyses, et locutus est omnia verba cantici hujus in auribus populi, ipse et Josue filius Nun.
45And he finished all these words, speaking to the children of Israel:And he finished al these wordes, speaking to the children of Israel:Complevitque omnes sermones istos, loquens ad universum Israël,
46and he said to them: Set your hearts on all the words, which I testify to you this day: that you command them to your children to keep and to do, and to fulfil all things of this law that are written:and he said to them: Sette your hartes on al the wordes, which I testifie to you this day: that you command them to your children to keepe and to doe, and to fulfil al thinges of this law that are written:et dixit ad eos : Ponite corda vestra in omnia verba, quæ ego testificor vobis hodie : ut mandetis ea filiis vestris custodire et facere, et implere universa quæ scripta sunt legis hujus :
47for not in vain are they commanded you, but that every one should live in them: which doing you may continue a long time in the Land, which passing over Jordan you enter to possess.for not in vaine are they commanded you, but that euerie one should liue in them: which doing you may continew a long time in the Land, which passing ouer Iordan you enter to possesse.quia non incassum præcepta sunt vobis, sed ut singuli in eis viverent : quæ facientes longo perseveretis tempore in terra, ad quam, Jordane transmisso, ingredimini possidendam.
48And our Lord spake to Moyses in the same day, saying:And our Lord spake to Moyses in the same day, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen in eadem die, dicens :
49Go up into this mount Abarim, that is to say, of passages, into mount Nebo, which is in the Land of Moab against Jericho: and see the Land of Chanaan, which I will deliver to the children of Israel to obtain, and die thou in the mount.Goe vp into this mount Abarim, that is to say, of passages, into mount Nebo, which is in the Land of Moab against Iericho: and see the Land of Chanaan, which I wil deliuer to the children of Israel to obteyne, and die thou in the mount.Ascende in montem istum Abarim, id est, transituum, in montem Nebo, qui est in terra Moab contra Jericho : et vide terram Chanaan, quam ego tradam filiis Israël obtinendam, et morere in monte.
50Which going up unto thou shalt be joined to thy peoples, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was laid to his people:Which going vp vnto thou shalt be ioyned to thy peoples, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was layd to his people:Quem conscendens jungeris populis tuis, sicut mortuus est Aaron frater tuus in monte Hor, et appositus populis suis :
51because you did not equivocate nor speak evasively: transgress, break faith, deal falsely · Vulgate: *prævaricati* against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the Waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert of Sin: and you did not sanctify me among the children of Israel.because you did preuaricate against me in the middes of the children of Israel at the Waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert of Sin: and you did not sanctifie me among the children of Israel.quia prævaricati estis contra me in medio filiorum Israël ad aquas contradictionis in Cades deserti Sin : et non sanctificastis me inter filios Israël.
52On the contrary side shalt thou see the Land, and shalt not enter into it, which I will give to the children of Israel.On the contrarie side shalt thou see the Land, and shalt not enter into it, which I wil geue to the children of Israel.E contra videbis terram, et non ingredieris in eam, quam ego dabo filiis Israël.
Annotations
18Forgotten our Lord. Calvin (l. 1. Instit. c. 11. parag. 9.) contending that it is idolatry, to worship Christ in his picture, saith the idolatry committed about the molten calf (Exod. 32.) consisted in worshipping the true God in that image of a calf: affirming that the Jews were not so inconsiderate, as not to remember, that it was God which had brought them out of the Land of Egypt. Quite contrary to this text, which saith: God that begat thee thou hast forsaken, and hast forgotten our Lord thy creator. Calvin therefore was either ignorant or forgetful, that the Holy Ghost here chargeth them, to have forsaken and forgotten God the Creator; or else (which is worse) knowing and remembering it, he was most impudent in avouching the contrary.
43Praise his people. In the people of the Jews were always some good, & worthy of praise, that served God; and sometimes suffered persecution for justice; whose blood God promised here to revenge, and for their sakes to be merciful to others. All which we see was performed, in that God reduced them from captivity, and conserved them after in their country till Christ's time. for so he was propitious to the land of his people.