1 I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,

1 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 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.

2 decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine:
ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.

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.

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

4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.

4 In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis:

5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.

5 nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.

6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

6 Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam,
et similis exitus.

7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

7 Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus;
et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:

8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

8 et præposui illam regnis et sedibus,
et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.

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.

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

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.

10 Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam,
et proposui pro luce habere illam,
quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.

11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.

11 Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa,
et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;

12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.

12 et lætatus sum in omnibus,
quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia,
et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.

13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.

13 Quam sine fictione didici,
et sine invidia communico,
et honestatem illius non abscondo.

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.

14 Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus;
quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei,
propter disciplinæ dona commendati.

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.

15 Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia,
et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur:
quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est,
et sapientium emendator.

16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.

16 In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri,
et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.

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:

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

18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:

18 initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum,
vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,

19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:

19 anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,

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:

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

21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.

21 Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici:
omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.

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,

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

23 Kind to man, stedfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.

23 humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus,
omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens,
et qui capiat omnes spiritus,
intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.

24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.

24 Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia:
attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.

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.

25 Vapor est enim virtutis Dei,
et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera,
et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:

26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.

26 candor est enim lucis æternæ,
et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis,
et imago bonitatis illius.

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.

27 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.

28 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 stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

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

30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.

30 Illi enim succedit nox;
sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.