The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.

 1 I myself also 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.
Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est; et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro,

 2 In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.
decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine. Ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.

 3 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.
Et ego natus accepi communem aerem; et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.

 4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.
In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis :

 5 For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.
nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.

 6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.

 7 Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:
Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus; et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiae;

 8 And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
et praeposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.

 9 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.
Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum aestimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.

 10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.
Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam, quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.

 11 Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands,
Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;

 12 And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.
et laetatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.

 13 Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.
Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.

 14 For she is an infinite treasure to men! which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of discipline.
Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus; quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiae Dei, propter disciplinae dona commendati.

 15 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:
Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et praesumere digna horum quae mihi dantur, quoniam ipse sapientiae dux est, et sapientium emendator.

 16 For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.
In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.

 17 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,
Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quae sunt scientiam veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,

 18 The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,
initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,

 19 The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,
anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,

 20 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,
naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum.

 21 And all such things as are hid and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.
Et quaecumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici : omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.

 22 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,
Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiae, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,

 23 Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits, intelligible, pure, subtile.
humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.

 24 For wisdom is more active than all active things: and reacheth everywhere by reason of her purity.
Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia : attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.

 25 For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emanation of the glory of the almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.
Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quaedam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera, et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit;

 26 For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.
candor est enim lucis aeternae, et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.

 27 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.
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.

 28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.

 29 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.
Est enim haec speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum : luci comparata, invenitur prior.

 30 For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.
Illi enim succedit nox; sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.