Wisdom 10

1 She preserved him, that was first formed by God the father of the world, when he was created alone, 2 And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern all things. 3 But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother. 4 For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood. 5 Moreover when the nations had conspired together to consent to wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, and kept him strong against the compassion for his son. 6 She delivered the just man who fled from the wicked that were perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis: 7 Whose land for a testimony of their wickedness is desolate, and smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul. 8 For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that they were ignorant of good things, but they left also unto men a memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, they could not so much as lie hid. 9 But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her. 10 She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother’s wrath, through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours. 11 In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, and made him honourable. 12 She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all. 13 She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she went down with him into the pit. 14 And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory. 15 She delivered the just people, and blameless seed from the nations that oppressed them. 16 She entered into the soul of the servant of God, and stood against dreadful kings in wonders and signs. 17 And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night: 18 And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over through a great water. 19 But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked. 20 And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one accord thy victorious hand. 21 For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of infants eloquent.

Section: I. — LA SAGESSE SAUVE LES BONS ET CHÂTIE LES MÉCHANTS.

1 C’est la sagesse qui garda le premier homme formé par Dieu, pour être le père du genre humain, le seul créé ; 2 elle le tira de son péché,
et lui donna le pouvoir de gouverner toutes les créatures. 3 S’étant éloigné d’elle dans sa colère,
l’injuste périt avec sa fureur fratricide. 4 Quand, à cause de lui, la terre fut submergée, la sagesse la sauva,
dirigeant le juste sur un bois sans valeur. 5 Lorsque les nations étaient confondues dans leur commune iniquité,
la sagesse connut le juste et le conserva sans reproche devant Dieu,
et le garda invincible contre sa tendresse pour son fils. 6 Ce fut elle qui, au milieu de la ruine des méchants, sauva le juste,
qui s’enfuit loin du feu descendu sur les cinq villes. 7 En témoignage de leur perversité,
cette terre désolée continue de fumer,
les arbres portent leurs fruits hors de saison ;
monument d’une âme incrédule, une colonne de sel reste là debout. 8 Ayant négligé la sagesse,
non seulement ils ont été privés de la connaissance du bien,
mais ils ont laissé aux vivants un monument de leur folie,
afin que leurs crimes ne puissent tomber dans l’oubli. 9 Mais la sagesse a délivré du malheur ses fidèles. 10 C’est elle qui conduisit par des voies droites
le juste fuyant la colère de son frère,
qui lui montra le royaume de Dieu,
et lui donna la science des choses saintes ;
elle l’enrichit dans ses pénibles labeurs,
et fit fructifier ses travaux. 11 Elle l’assista contre d’avares oppresseurs,
et lui fit acquérir des richesses. 12 Elle le garda contre ses ennemis,
et le protégea contre ceux qui lui dressaient des embûches ;
elle lui donna la victoire dans un rude combat,
pour lui apprendre que la piété est plus puissante que tout. 13 Elle n’abandonna pas le juste vendu,
mais le préserva du péché ; 14 elle descendit avec lui dans la fosse,
et ne le quitta pas dans les chaînes,
jusqu’à ce qu’elle lui eut procuré le sceptre royal,
et la puissance sur ses oppresseurs ;
elle convainquit de mensonge ceux qui l’avaient accusé,
et lui donna une gloire éternelle. 15 Elle délivra des nations qui l’opprimaient le peuple saint et la race sans reproche. 16 Elle entra dans l’âme du serviteur de Dieu, et, par des signes et des prodiges, elle tint tête à des rois redoutables. 17 Elle rendit aux saints le salaire de leurs travaux,
elle les conduisit par une route semée de merveilles,
et fut pour eux un ombrage pendant le jour,
et comme la lumière des étoiles pendant la nuit. 18 Elle leur fit traverser la mer Rouge,
et les conduisit à travers les grandes eaux. 19 Elle submergea leurs ennemis,
puis des profondeurs de l’abîme elle les rejeta. 20 C’est pourquoi les justes enlevèrent les dépouilles des impies,
et chantèrent votre saint nom, Seigneur,
et louèrent de concert votre main qui combattait pour eux. 21 Car la sagesse ouvrit la bouche des muets
et rendit éloquente la langue des enfants.