Moralitates
A Warning to the Powerful
Drawing on the book of Wisdom, the text summons kings and rulers to hear and understand that their authority comes from God, who will judge their deeds, and warns that while the lowly receive mercy, the powerful will face severe reckoning.
From the sixth chapter of Wisdom: Hear, you kings, and understand; learn, you judges of the earth's farthest bounds. Lend your ears, you who hold the multitudes in your power and take your pleasure among the surging crowds of the nations — because authority over you has been given by the Lord, and strength by the Most High, who will examine your deeds and search out your every intention. Because when you were ministers of that kingdom, you did not judge rightly, nor did you keep the law of justice, nor did you walk according to God's will. Fearfully and suddenly it will come upon you, because the harshest judgment will fall upon those who rule. For mercy is granted to the lowly, but the powerful will powerfully endure torments.
A Call to Just Governance
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God commands the princes of Israel to cease exploiting His people, to practice justice and righteousness, and to respect the boundaries of the land given to Israel.
From Ezekiel chapter 45: The land will be their possession in Israel, and the princes will no longer devastate my people, but they will give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.✦ This is what the Lord God says.✦ Let it be enough for you, princes of Israel.✦ Put an end to iniquity and plunder; do what is right and just.✦ Keep your boundaries away from my people, says the Lord God.✦
Read the original Latin
Sapiencie VIo capitulo Audite ergo reges et intelligite, discite, iudices finium terre, prebete aures vos, qui continetis multitudines et placetis vobis in turbis nacionum, quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis et virtus ab Altissimo, qui interrogabit opera vestra et cogitaciones scrutabitur. Quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte iudicastis neque custodistis legem iusticie neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis. Horrende et cito apparebit vobis, quoniam iudicium durissimum in hiis, qui presunt, fiet. Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia, potentes autem potenter tormenta pacientur.
Ezechielis XLVo capitulo De terra erit eis possessio in Israel, et non depopulabuntur ultra principes populum meum, sed terram dabunt domui Israel secundum tribus eorum. Hec dicit Dominus Deus. Sufficiat vobis, principes Israel. Iniquitatem et rapinas intermittite, iudicium et iusticiam facite. Separate confinia vestra a populo meo, ait Dominus Deus.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ezek.45.8-Ezek.45.9 — The land shall be his as a possession in Israel, and my princes shall no longer oppress my people; and they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes. Ezek.45.9 — Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough for you, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and devastation, and do justice and righteousness; remove your exactions from my people, declares the Lord GOD.
- ↩Ezek.45.9 — Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough for you, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and devastation, and do justice and righteousness; remove your exactions from my people, declares the Lord GOD.
- ↩Ezek.45.9 — Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough for you, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and devastation, and do justice and righteousness; remove your exactions from my people, declares the Lord GOD.
- ↩Ezek.45.9 — Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough for you, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and devastation, and do justice and righteousness; remove your exactions from my people, declares the Lord GOD.
- ↩Ezek.45.10 — You shall have just scales, a just ephah, and a just bath.
Moralitates of Charles IV companion
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