Wisdom 7
The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.
Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est: et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro;
I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.
decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine: ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.
In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.
Et ego natus accepi communem aërem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.
And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis:
I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.
nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.
For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.
Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.
For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus; et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:
Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:
et præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.
And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.
Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to her, shall be counted as clay.
Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam, quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.
I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.
Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;
Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands,
et lætatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.
And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.
Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.
Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.
Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus; quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei, propter disciplinæ dona commendati.
For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.
Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur: quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est, et sapientium emendator.
And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:
In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.
For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.
Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,
For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements,
initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,
The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,
anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,
The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,
naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum.
The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots,
Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici: omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.
And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.
Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,
For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,
humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.
Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, subtile:
Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia: attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.
For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth everywhere, by reason of her purity.
Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera, et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:
For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.
candor est enim lucis æternæ, et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.
For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.
Et cum sit una, omnia potest; et in se permanens omnia innovat: et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert; amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.
And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.
Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.
For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
Est enim hæc speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum: luci comparata, invenitur prior.
For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.
Illi enim succedit nox; sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.
For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.