1 Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.
2 Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.
3 For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.
4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;
5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places.
6 For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.
7 For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man’s person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man’s greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike.
8 But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.
9 Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not fall away.
10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer.
11 Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed.
12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.
13 She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.
14 Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.
15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.
16 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought.
17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;
18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption;
19 And incorruption maketh us near unto God:
20 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.
21 If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.
22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.
23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.
24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.
25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.
1 melior est sapientia quam vires
et vir prudens magis quam fortis
2 audite ergo reges et intellegite discite iudices finium terrae
3 praebete aures vos qui continetis multitudines
et placetis vobis in turbis nationum
4 quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis et virtus ab Altissimo
qui interrogabit opera vestra et cogitationes scrutabitur
5 quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius non recte iudicastis
neque custodistis legem iustitiae
neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis
6 horrende et cito apparebit vobis
quoniam iudicium durissimum in his qui praesunt fiet
7 exiguo enim conceditur misericordia
potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur
8 non enim subtrahet personam cuiusquam Dominus
nec reverebitur magnitudinem cuiusquam
quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit
et aequaliter cura est illi pro omnibus
9 fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio
10 ad vos ergo reges sunt hi sermones mei
ut discatis sapientiam et non excidatis
11 qui enim custodierint iusta iuste
iustificabuntur
et qui didicerint ista invenient quid
respondeant
12 concupiscite ergo sermones meos
diligite illos et habebitis disciplinam
13 clara est et quae numquam marcescat sapientia
et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam
et invenietur ab his qui quaerunt illam
14 praeoccupat qui se concupiscunt ut illis se prior ostendat
15 qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam non laborabit
adsidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet
16 cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus
et qui vigilaverit propter illam cito erit securus
17 quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quaerens
et in viis ostendit se illis hilariter
et in omni providentia occurrit illis
18 initium enim illius verissima est disciplinae concupiscentia
19 cura ergo disciplinae dilectio est
et dilectio custoditio legum illius est
custoditio autem legum consummatio incorruptionis est
20 incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo
21 concupiscentia itaque sapientiae deducet ad regnum
perpetuum
22 si ergo delectamini sedibus et
stemmatibus
reges populi
diligite sapientiam ut in perpetuum regnetis
24 quid est autem sapientia et quemadmodum facta sit referam
et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei
sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo
et ponam in lucem scientiam illius
et non praeteribo veritatem
25 neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo
quoniam ista non erit particeps sapientiae
26 multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis
terrarum
et rex sapiens populi stabilimentum est
27 ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos et proderit vobis