Liber Sapientiae, 10

1. Haec illum, qui primus formatus est, pater orbis terrarum, cum solus esset creatus, custodivit et eduxit illum a delicto suo

1. Wisdom protected the first-formed father of the world, when he alone had been created; she delivered him from his transgression,

2. et dedit illi virtutem continendi omnia.

2. and gave him strength to rule all things.

3. Ab hac ut recessit iniustus in ira sua, in furoribus fraternae caedis deperiit;

3. But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger, he perished because in rage he slew his brother.

4. propter quem, cum demergeretur terra, sanavit eam iterum sapientia per contemptibile lignum iustum gubernans.

4. When the earth was flooded because of him, wisdom again saved it, steering the righteous man by a paltry piece of wood.

5. Haec et in consensu nequitiae, cum se nationes confudissent, scivit iustum et conservavit sine querela Deo et super filii viscera fortem custodivit.

5. Wisdom also, when the nations in wicked agreement had been confounded, recognized the righteous man and preserved him blameless before God, and kept him strong in the face of his compassion for his child.

6. Haec iustum a pereuntibus impiis liberavit fugientem, descendente igne in Pentapolim;

6. Wisdom rescued a righteous man when the ungodly were perishing; he escaped the fire that descended on the Five Cities.

7. cuius adhuc in testimonium nequitiae fumigabunda constat deserta terra, et incertis temporibus fructus habentes arbores, et incredibilis animae memoria stans figmentum salis.

7. Evidence of their wickedness still remains: a continually smoking wasteland, plants bearing fruit that does not ripen, and a pillar of salt standing as a monument to an unbelieving soul.

8. Sapientiam enim praetereuntes non tantum in hoc lapsi sunt, ut ignorarent bona, sed et insipientiae suae reliquerunt hominibus memoriam, ut in his, quae peccaverunt, nec latere potuissent.

8. For because they passed wisdom by, they not only were hindered from recognizing the good, but also left for mankind a reminder of their folly, so that their failures could never go unnoticed.

9. Sapientia autem hos, qui eam observant, a laboribus liberavit.

9. Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her.

10. Haec profugum irae fratris iustum deduxit per vias rectas et ostendit illi regnum Dei et dedit illi scientiam sanctorum; honestavit illum in laboribus et complevit labores illius.

10. When a righteous man fled from his brother's wrath, she guided him on straight paths; she showed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge of angels; she prospered him in his labors, and increased the fruit of his toil.

11. In avaritia circumvenientium illum affuit illi et honestum fecit illum.

11. When his oppressors were covetous, she stood by him and made him rich.

12. Custodivit illum ab inimicis et ab insidiantibus tutavit illum; et post certamen forte bravium dedit illi, ut sciret quoniam omnium potentior est pietas.

12. She protected him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him; in his arduous contest she gave him the victory, so that he might learn that godliness is more powerful than anything.

13. Haec venditum iustum non dereliquit, sed a peccato liberavit eum;

13. When a righteous man was sold, wisdom did not desert him, but delivered him from sin. She descended with him into the dungeon,

14. descenditque cum illo in foveam et in vinculis non dereliquit illum, donec afferret illi sceptrum regni et potentiam adversus eos, qui eum deprimebant, et mendaces ostendit, qui maculaverunt illum, et dedit illi claritatem aeternam.

14. and when he was in prison she did not leave him, until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom and authority over his masters. Those who accused him she showed to be false, and she gave him everlasting honor.

15. Haec populum sanctum et semen sine querela liberavit a nationibus, quae illum deprimebant.

15. A holy people and blameless race wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors.

16. Intravit in animam servi Domini et stetit contra reges horrendos in portentis et signis.

16. She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs.

17. Reddidit sanctis mercedem laborum suorum et deduxit illos in via mirabili et fuit illis in velamento diei et in luce stellarum per noctem.

17. She gave holy men the reward of their labors; she guided them along a marvelous way, and became a shelter to them by day, and a starry flame through the night.

18. Transtulit illos per mare Rubrum et transvexit illos per aquam nimiam

18. She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters;

19. inimicos autem illorum demersit et ab altitudine abyssi eduxit illos.

19. but she drowned their enemies, and cast them up from the depth of the sea.

20. Ideo iusti tulerunt spolia impiorum et decantaverunt, Domine, nomen sanctum tuum et victricem manum tuam laudaverunt unanimiter,

20. Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly; they sang hymns, O Lord, to thy holy name, and praised with one accord thy defending hand,

21. quoniam sapientia aperuit os mutorum et linguas infantium fecit disertas.

21. because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of babes speak clearly.