Léctio libri Sapiéntiæ (3,1-9)
Iustórum ánimæ in manu Dei sunt, et non tanget illos torméntum mortis. Visi sunt óculis insipiéntium mori, et æstimáta est afflíctio éxitus illórum, et, quod a nobis est iter, extermínium; illi autem sunt in pace. Étenim, si coram homínibus torménta passi sunt, spes illórum immortalitáte plena est; et in paucis corrépti, in multis bene disponéntur, quóniam Deus tentávit eos et invénit illos dignos se. Tamquam aurum in fornáce probávit illos et quasi holocáusti hóstiam accépit illos, et in témpore visitatiónis illórum fulgébunt et tamquam scintíllæ in arundinéto discúrrent; iudicábunt natiónes et dominabúntur pópulis, et regnábit Dóminus illórum in perpétuum. Qui confídunt in illo, intéllegent veritátem, et fidéles in dilectióne acquiéscent illi, quóniam grátia et misericórdia est sanctis eíus, et visitátio eléctis eíus.
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. They seemed in the eyes of the unwise to die: and their decease was counted affliction: and that which with us is the way, is destruction: but they are in peace. And though before men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Vexed in few things, in many they shall be well disposed of: because God hath tempted them, and hath found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as an host of holocaust he hath received them, & in time there shall be respect of them. The just shall shine, and as sparks in a place of reeds they shall run abroad. They shall judge nations, & have dominion over peoples, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that trust in him, shall understand truth: & the faithful in love shall rest in him: because rest and peace is to his elect.
