1 sum quidem et ego mortalis homo similis omnibus
et ex genere terreno illius qui prior finctus
est
et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro
2 decem mensuum tempore coagulatus in sanguine
ex semine hominis et delectamento somni conveniente
3 et ego natus accepi communem aerem
et in similiter factam
decidi terram
primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans
4 in involumentis nutritus sum et curis magnis
5 nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium
6 unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam et
similis exitus
7 propter hoc optavi et datus est mihi sensus
et invocavi et venit in me spiritus sapientiae
8 et praeposui illam regnis et sedibus
et divitias nihil esse duxi in conparatione illius
9 nec conparavi illi lapidem pretiosum
quoniam omne aurum in conparatione illius harena est exigua
et tamquam lutum aestimabitur argentum in conspectu illius
10 super salutem et speciem dilexi illam
et proposui pro luce habere illam
quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius
11 venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa
et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius
12 et laetatus sum in omnibus
quoniam antecedebat ista sapientia
et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est
13 quam sine fictione didici et sine invidia communico
et honestatem illius non abscondo
14 infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus
quod qui usi sunt participes facti sunt
amicitiae Dei
propter disciplinae dona commendati
15 mihi autem det Deus dicere ex sententia
et praesumere digna horum quae
dantur
quoniam ipse et sapientiae dux est
et sapientium emendator
16 in manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri
et omnis sapientia et operum scientiae
disciplina
17 ipse enim mihi dedit horum quae sunt scientiam veram
ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum et virtutes elementorum
18 initium et consummationem et medietatem temporum
et meditationem omnium
morum mutationes et divisiones temporum
19 anni cursus et stellarum dispositiones
20 naturas animalium et iras bestiarum
vim ventorum et cogitationes hominum
differentias arborum et virtutes radicum
21 et quaecumque sunt absconsa et inprovisa didici
omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia
22 est enim in illa spiritus intellectus
sanctus unicus multiplex
subtilis mobilis dissertus incoinquinatus
certus suavis amans bonum acutus
qui nihil vetat benefacere
23 humanus stabilis
certus securus
omnem habens virtutem omnia prospiciens
et qui capiat omnes spiritus intellegibiles mundos subtiles
24 omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia
adtingit autem ubique
et capit propter suam munditiam
25 vapor est enim virtutis Dei
et emanatio quaedam est claritatis omnipotentis
Dei sincera
et ideo nihil inquinatum in illa incurrit
26 candor est enim lucis aeternae
et speculum sine macula Dei maiestatis
et imago bonitatis illius
27 et cum sit una omnia potest
et permanens in se omnia innovat
et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert
amicos Dei et prophetas constituit
28 neminem enim diligit Deus
nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat
29 est enim haec speciosior sole
et super omnem stellarum dispositionem
luci conparata invenitur prior
30 illi enim succedit nox sapientiam autem non vincit malitia
1 I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,
2 And in my mother’s womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.
3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.
5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.
6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
9 Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.
10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.
11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.
12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.
13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.
14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.
15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.
16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.
17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:
18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:
19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:
20 The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:
21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.
22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,
23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.
25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.
26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.
27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.
28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.
30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.