Liber Sapientiae, 8
1. adtingit enim a fine usque ad finem fortiter et disponit omnia suaviter
1. She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.
2. hanc amavi et exquisivi a juventute mea et quæsivi sponsam mihi adsumere et amator factus sum formæ illius
2. Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.
3. generositatem glorificat contubernium habens Dei sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam
3. She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea and the Lord of all things hath loved her.
4. doctrix est enim disciplinæ Dei et electrix operum illius
4. For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of his works.
5. et si divitiæ appetuntur in vita quid sapientiæ locupletius quæ omnia operatur
5. And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?
6. si autem sensus operatur quis horum quæ sunt magis quam illa est artifex
6. And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?
7. et si justitiam quis diligit labores hujus magnas habent virtutes sobrietatem enim et sapientiam docet et justitiam et virtutem quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus
7. And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, anad justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
8. et si multitudinem scientiæ desiderat quis scit præterita et de futuris æstimat scit versutias sermonum et dissolutiones argumentorum signa et monstra scit antequam fiant et eventus temporum et sæculorum
8. And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
9. proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum sciens quoniam communicabit mecum de bonis et erit adlocutio cogitationis et tædii mei
9. I purposed therefore to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.
10. habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas et honorem apud seniores juvenis
10. For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:
11. acutus inveniar in judicio et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero et facies principum mirabuntur me
11. And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
12. tacentem me sustinebunt et loquentem me respicient et sermocinante plura manus ori suo inponent
12. They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak, and if I talk much they shall lay their hands on their mouths.
13. propterea habebo per hanc inmortalitatem et memoriam æternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam
13. Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.
14. disponam populos et nationes mihi erunt subiectæ
14. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.
15. timebunt me audientes reges horrendi in multitudine videbor bonus et in bello fortis
15. Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.
16. intrans in domum meam conquiescam cum illa non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius nec tædium convictus ipsius sed lætitiam et gaudium
16. When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.
17. hæc cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo quoniam inmortalitas est in cogitatione sapientiæ
17. Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,
18. et in amicitia illius delectatio bona et in operibus manuum illius honestas sine defectione et in certamine loquellæ illius sapientia et præclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius circuibam quærens ut mihi illam adsumerem
18. And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.
19. puer autem eram ingeniosus et sortitus sum animam bonam
19. And I was a witty child and had received a good soul.
20. et cum essem magis bonus veni ad corpus incoinquinatum
20. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
21. et ut scivi quoniam aliter non possum esse continens nisi Deus det et hoc ipsum erat sapientiæ scire cujus esset hoc donum adii Dominum et deprecatus sum illum et dixi ex totis præcordiis meis
21. And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was: I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:
