1 adtingit enim a fine usque ad finem
fortiter
et disponit omnia suaviter
2 hanc amavi et exquisivi a iuventute mea
et quaesivi sponsam mihi adsumere
et amator factus sum formae illius
3 generositatem glorificat contubernium habens Dei
sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam
4 doctrix est enim disciplinae Dei et electrix operum
illius
5 et si divitiae appetuntur in vita
quid sapientiae locupletius quae omnia operatur
6 si autem sensus operatur
quis horum quae sunt magis quam illa est artifex
7 et si iustitiam quis diligit
labores huius magnas habent virtutes
sobrietatem enim et sapientiam docet
et iustitiam et virtutem quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus
8 et si multitudinem
scientiae desiderat quis
scit praeterita et de futuris aestimat
scit versutias sermonum et dissolutiones
argumentorum
signa et monstra scit antequam fiant
et eventus temporum et saeculorum
9 proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum
sciens quoniam communicabit mecum de bonis
et erit adlocutio cogitationis et taedii mei
10 habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas
et honorem apud seniores iuvenis
11 acutus inveniar in iudicio
et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero
et facies principum mirabuntur me
12 tacentem me sustinebunt et loquentem me respicient
et sermocinante plura
manus ori suo inponent
13 propterea habebo per hanc inmortalitatem
et memoriam aeternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam
14 disponam populos et nationes mihi erunt subiectae
15 timebunt me audientes reges horrendi
in multitudine videbor bonus et in bello fortis
16 intrans in domum meam conquiescam cum illa
non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius
nec taedium convictus ipsius sed laetitiam et gaudium
17 haec cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo
quoniam inmortalitas est in cogitatione sapientiae
18 et in amicitia illius delectatio bona
et in operibus manuum illius honestas sine defectione
et in certamine loquellae illius sapientia
et praeclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius
circuibam quaerens ut mihi illam adsumerem
19 puer autem eram ingeniosus et sortitus sum animam bonam
20 et cum essem magis bonus veni ad corpus incoinquinatum
21 et ut scivi quoniam aliter non possum esse continens nisi
Deus det
et hoc ipsum erat sapientiae scire cuius esset hoc donum
adii Dominum et deprecatus sum illum
et dixi ex totis praecordiis meis
1 Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.
2 I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.
3 In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.
4 For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.
5 If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?
6 And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?
7 And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.
8 If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.
9 Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.
10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.
11 I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.
12 When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.
13 Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.
14 I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject unto me.
15 Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.
16 After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.
17 Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;
18 And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me.
19 For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.
20 Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.
21 Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,