Liber Primus - Caput 1

CONFESSIONES - AUGUSTINUS

Liber Primus - Caput 1

BOOK 1 Chapter 1

1.1.1 Magnus es, domine, et laudabilis valde: magna virtus tua, et sapientiae tuae non est numerus.

1.1.1 Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and Thy wisdom infinite.

et laudare te vult homo, aliqua portio creaturae tuae,

And Thee would man praise; man, but a particle of Thy creation;

et homo circumferens mortalitem suam, circumferens testimonium peccati sui et testimonium, quia superbis resistis:

man, that bears about him his mortality, the witness of his sin, the witness that Thou resistest the proud:

et tamen laudare te vult homo, aliqua portio creaturae tuae.

yet would man praise Thee; he, but a particle of Thy creation.

tu excitas, ut laudare te delectet, quia fecisti nos ad te et inquietum est cor nostrum, donec requiescat in te.

Thou awakest us to delight in Thy praise; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.

da mihi, domine, scire et intellegere, utrum sit prius invocare te an laudare te,

Grant me, Lord, to know and understand which is first, to call on Thee or to praise Thee?

et scire te prius sit an invocare te.

and, again, to know Thee or to call on Thee?

sed quis te invocat nesciens te?

for who can call on Thee, not knowing Thee?

aliud enim pro alio potest invocare nesciens.

for he that knoweth Thee not, may call on Thee as other than Thou art.

an potius invocaris, ut sciaris?

Or, is it rather, that we call on Thee that we may know Thee?

quomodo autem invocabunt, in quem non crediderunt?

but how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?

aut quomodo credent sine praedicante?

or how shall they believe without a preacher?

et laudabunt dominum qui requirunt eum.

and they that seek the Lord shall praise Him:

quaerentes enim inveniunt eum et invenientes laudabunt eum.

for they that seek shall find Him, and they that find shall praise Him.

quaeram te, domine, invocans te, et invocem te credens in te: praedicatus enim es nobis.

I will seek Thee, Lord, by calling on Thee; and will call on Thee, believing in Thee; for to us hast Thou been preached.

invocat te, domine, fides mea, quam dedisti mihi, quam inspirasti mihi per humanitatem filii tui, per ministerium praedicatoris tui.

My faith, Lord, shall call on Thee, which Thou hast given me, wherewith Thou hast inspired me, through the Incarnation of Thy Son, through the ministry of the Preacher.

Liber Primus - Caput 1	BOOK 1 Chapter 1
1.1.1 Magnus es, domine, et laudabilis valde: magna virtus tua, et sapientiae tuae non est numerus.	1.1.1 Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and Thy wisdom infinite.
et laudare te vult homo, aliqua portio creaturae tuae,	And Thee would man praise; man, but a particle of Thy creation;
et homo circumferens mortalitem suam, circumferens testimonium peccati sui et testimonium, quia superbis resistis:	man, that bears about him his mortality, the witness of his sin, the witness that Thou resistest the proud:
et tamen laudare te vult homo, aliqua portio creaturae tuae.	yet would man praise Thee; he, but a particle of Thy creation.
tu excitas, ut laudare te delectet, quia fecisti nos ad te et inquietum est cor nostrum, donec requiescat in te.	Thou awakest us to delight in Thy praise; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.
da mihi, domine, scire et intellegere, utrum sit prius invocare te an laudare te,	Grant me, Lord, to know and understand which is first, to call on Thee or to praise Thee?
et scire te prius sit an invocare te.	and, again, to know Thee or to call on Thee?
sed quis te invocat nesciens te?	for who can call on Thee, not knowing Thee?
aliud enim pro alio potest invocare nesciens.	for he that knoweth Thee not, may call on Thee as other than Thou art.
an potius invocaris, ut sciaris?	Or, is it rather, that we call on Thee that we may know Thee?
quomodo autem invocabunt, in quem non crediderunt?	but how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
aut quomodo credent sine praedicante?	or how shall they believe without a preacher?
et laudabunt dominum qui requirunt eum.	and they that seek the Lord shall praise Him:
quaerentes enim inveniunt eum et invenientes laudabunt eum.	for they that seek shall find Him, and they that find shall praise Him.
quaeram te, domine, invocans te, et invocem te credens in te: praedicatus enim es nobis.	I will seek Thee, Lord, by calling on Thee; and will call on Thee, believing in Thee; for to us hast Thou been preached.
invocat te, domine, fides mea, quam dedisti mihi, quam inspirasti mihi per humanitatem filii tui, per ministerium praedicatoris tui.	My faith, Lord, shall call on Thee, which Thou hast given me, wherewith Thou hast inspired me, through the Incarnation of Thy Son, through the ministry of the Preacher.