Gaining of wisdom bringeth much good, 10. and avoideth much evil: 16. delivering from error of Idolaters and Heretics.Gaining of wisdom bringeth much good, 10. and auoydeth much euil: 16. deliuering from error of Idolaters and Hæretikes.✦
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,MY sonne, if thou wilt receiue my wordes, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,✦Fili mi, si susceperis sermones meos, et mandata mea absconderis penes te :
2that thine ear may hear wisdom: incline thine heart to know prudence.that thyne eare may heare wisdom : incline thyne hart to knowe prudence.ut audiat sapientiam auris tua, inclina cor tuum ad cognoscendam prudentiam.
3For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thine heart to prudence:For if thou shalt cal for wisdom, and incline thyne hart to prudence:✦Si enim sapientiam invocaveris, et inclinaveris cor tuum prudentiæ ;
4If thou shalt seek her as money, and as treasures shalt dig her up:If thou shalt seeke her as money, and as treasures shalt dig her vp:✦si quæsieris eam quasi pecuniam, et sicut thesauros effoderis illam :
5then shalt thou understand the fear of our Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of our Lord, and shalt finde the knowlege of God.✦tunc intelliges timorem Domini, et scientiam Dei invenies,
6Because our Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth prudence and knowledge.Because our Lord geueth wisdom : and out of his mouth prudence and knowlege.✦quia Dominus dat sapientiam, et ex ore ejus prudentia et scientia.
7He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk simpliciter: merely; uprightly, without guile,He wil keepe the saluation of the righteous, & protect them that walke simply✦Custodiet rectorum salutem, et proteget gradientes simpliciter,
8Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.Keeping the pathes of iustice, & garding the wayes of saints.servans semitas justitiæ, et vias sanctorum custodiens.
9Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgement, and equity, and every good path.Then shalt thou vnderstand iustice, and iudgement, and equitie, and euery good path.✦Tunc intelliges justitiam, et judicium, et æquitatem, et omnem semitam bonam.
10If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:If wisdom shal enter into thy hart, and knowlege please thy soule :✦Si intraverit sapientia cor tuum, et scientia animæ tuæ placuerit,
11counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,counsel shal keepe thee, and prudence shal preserue thee,consilium custodiet te, et prudentia servabit te :
12that thou mayest be delivered from the evil way, and from the man, that speaketh perverse things:that thou mayst be deliuered from the euil way, and from the man, that speaketh peruerse thinges :✦ut eruaris a via mala, et ab homine qui perversa loquitur ;
13who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:who leaue the right way, and walke by darke wayes :¶qui relinquunt iter rectum, et ambulant per vias tenebrosas ;
14who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things:who are glad when they haue done euil, and reioyce in most wicked thinges:qui lætantur cum malefecerint, et exsultant in rebus pessimis ;
15whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.whose wayes are peruerse, and their steppes infamous.quorum viæ perversæ sunt, et infames gressus eorum.
16That thou mayest be delivered from the strange woman, and from the foreigner, which mollifieth her words,That thou mayst be deliuered from the strange woman, and from the forener, which mollifieth her wordes,✦Ut eruaris a muliere aliena, et ab extranea quæ mollit sermones suos,
17forsaketh the guide of her youth,forsaketh the guide of her youth,et relinquit ducem pubertatis suæ,
18and hath forgotten the covenant of her God. For her house is bowed down to death, and her paths to hell.and hath forgotten the couenant of her God. For her house is bowed downe to death, and her pathes to hel.et pacti Dei sui oblita est. Inclinata est enim ad mortem domus ejus, et ad inferos semitæ ipsius.
19All that go in unto her, shall not return neither shall they apprehend the paths of life.Al that goe in vnto her, shal not returne neither shal they apprehend the pathes of life.Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non revertentur, nec apprehendent semitas vitæ.
20That thou mayest walk in a good way: and mayest keep the paths of the just.That thou mayst walke in a good way : and mayst keepe the pathes of the iust.✦Ut ambules in via bona, et calles justorum custodias :
21For they that are right, shall dwell in the earth, and the simplices: foolish, a simpleton; the upright, guileless shall continue in it.For they that are right, shal dwel in the earth, and the simple shal continue in it.qui enim recti sunt habitabunt in terra, et simplices permanebunt in ea ;
22But the impious shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly shall be taken away from it.But the impious shal be destroyed from the earth: and they that doe vniustly shal be taken away from it.impii vero de terra perdentur, et qui inique agunt auferentur ex ea.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
13Who leave the right way. Generally this description of wicked men, agreeth to all that commit and persist in mortal sin, whether they walked right at any time before or no; but most especially showeth the properties of heretics: who forsake and leave the direct, ancient, beaten, known way of the Catholic Church, and teach new obscure doctrines, not heard of, or not approved in our forefathers' time. Secondly (v. 14) they glory in their own devices, and rejoice in most wicked things, as in seducing multitude of peoples, to rebel against their Catholic Princes, and other Superiors spiritual and temporal, in breaking vows; in despising good works; trusting to only faith, and that not the Catholic faith of all true Christians, but every one his particular persuasion, that himself is just, and shall be saved, which by their own doctrine, none is bound to believe of another's state, but of his own only. In so much that the chiefest point of a Protestant's imagined faith, is not a general Article, which all do or should believe, but a most particular and singular fantasy, which each one must conceive of himself, or herself. Thirdly (v. 16.) Heresy, called here the strange and foreign woman, tempereth her words, to please the itching ears of her auditory, framing her doctrine to the humour of those, whom she seeketh to pervert. The same which the Apostle saith in other words, by sweet speeches and benedictions they seduce the hearts of innocents. Fourthly (v. 19.) Those that do enter into error of heresy, shall not return, that is, very hardly and rarely return into the right way of life; the reason whereof the same Apostle yieldeth, because an heretic is condemned by his own judgement. For being in error, and admitting no judge but himself, he parteth from the Church, excludeth the means of better instruction, and through his erroneous judgement, remaineth in damnable opinion, and so in the state of damnation.Who leaue the right way. Generally this description of vvicked men, agreeth to al that committe and persist in mortal sinne, vvhether they vvalked right at anie time before or no; but most especially shevveth the properties of heretikes: vvho forsake and leaue the direct, ancient, beaten, knovvne vvay of the Catholique Church, and teach nevv obscure doctrines, not heard of, or not approued in our forefathers time. Secondly (v. 14) they glorie in their ovvne deuises, and reioyce in most vvicked thinges, as in seducing multitude of peoples, to rebel against their Catholique Princes, and other Superiors spiritual and temporal, in breaking vovves; in despising good vvorkes; trusting to only faith, and that not the Catholique faith of al true Christians, but euerie one his particular persvvasion, that himself is iust, & shal be saued, vvhich by their ovvne doctrin, none is bond to beleue of an others state, but of his ovvne only. In so much that the chiefest point of a Protestants imagined faith, is not a general Article, vvhich al do or should beleue, but a most particular and singular phantasie, vvhich each one must conceiue of himself, or herself. Thirdly (v. 16.) Heresie, called here the strange and forrene vvoman, tempereth her vvordes, to please the itching eares of her auditorie, framing her doctrine to the humour of those, vvhom she seeketh to peruert. The same vvhich the Apostle saith in other vvordes, by svveete speaches and benedictions they seduce the hartes of innocents. Fourthly (v. 19.) Those that do enter into error of heresie, shal not returne, that is, very hardly and rarely returne into the right vvay of life; the reason vvhereof the same Apostle yeldeth, because an heretike is condemned by his ovvne iudgement. For being in error, and admitting no iudge but himself, he parteth from the Church, excludeth the meanes of better instruction, & through his erronious iudgement, remaineth in damnable opinion, and so in the state of damnation.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.