1 O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

1 Deus patrum meorum, et Domine misericordiæ,
qui fecisti omnia verbo tuo,

2 And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,

2 et sapientia tua constituisti hominem,
ut dominaretur creaturæ quæ a te facta est,

3 And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

3 ut disponat orbem terrarum in æquitate et justitia,
et in directione cordis judicium judicet:

4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:

4 da mihi sedium tuarum assistricem sapientiam,
et noli me reprobare a pueris tuis:

5 For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.

5 quoniam servus tuus sum ego, et filius ancillæ tuæ;
homo infirmus, et exigui temporis,
et minor ad intellectum judicii et legum.

6 For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

6 Nam etsi quis erit consummatus inter filios hominum,
si ab illo abfuerit sapientia tua, in nihilum computabitur.

7 Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

7 Tu elegisti me regem populo tuo,
et judicem filiorum tuorum et filiarum:

8 Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.

8 et dixisti me ædificare templum in monte sancto tuo,
et in civitate habitationis tuæ altare:
similitudinem tabernaculi sancti tui quod præparasti ab initio.

9 And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.

9 Et tecum sapientia tua, quæ novit opera tua,
quæ et affuit tunc cum orbem terrarum faceres,
et sciebat quid esset placitum oculis tuis,
et quid directum in præceptis tuis.

10 O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.

10 Mitte illam de cælis sanctis tuis,
et a sede magnitudinis tuæ,
ut mecum sit et mecum laboret,
ut sciam quid acceptum sit apud te:

11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.

11 scit enim illa omnia, et intelligit,
et deducet me in operibus meis sobrie,
et custodiet me in sua potentia.

12 So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.

12 Et erunt accepta opera mea,
et disponam populum tuum juste,
et ero dignus sedium patris mei.

13 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?

13 Quis enim hominum poterit scire consilium Dei?
aut quis poterit cogitare quid velit Deus?

14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.

14 Cogitationes enim mortalium timidæ,
et incertæ providentiæ nostræ;

15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.

15 corpus enim quod corrumpitur aggravat animam,
et terrena inhabitatio deprimit sensum multa cogitantem.

16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?

16 Et difficile æstimamus quæ in terra sunt,
et quæ in prospectu sunt invenimus cum labore:
quæ autem in cælis sunt, quis investigabit?

17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?

17 Sensum autem tuum, quis sciet, nisi tu dederis sapientiam,
et miseris spiritum sanctum tuum de altissimis,

18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom.

18 et sic correctæ sint semitæ eorum qui sunt in terris,
et quæ tibi placent didicerint homines?

19 Nam per sapientiam sanati sunt
quicumque placuerunt tibi, Domine, a principio.