Liber Sapientiae, 9

1. Deus parentum et Domine misericordiæ tuæ qui fecisti omnia verbo tuo

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

2. et sapientia tua constituisti hominem ut dominetur creaturæ quæ a te facta est

2. And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,

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

3. That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:

4. da mihi sedium tuarum adsistricem sapientiam et noli me reprobare a pueris tuis

4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children:

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

5. For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws.

6. et si quis erit consummatus inter filios hominum si afuerit ab illo sapientia tua in nihilum conputabitur

6. For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

7. tu me elegisti regem populo tuo et judicem filiorum tuorum et filiarum

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

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

8. And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:

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

9. And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.

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

10. Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:

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

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

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

12. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

13. quis enim hominum poterit scire consilium Dei aut quis poterit cogitare quid velit Dominus

13. For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is?

14. cogitationes enim mortalium timidæ et incertæ providentiæ nostræ

14. For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.

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

15. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

16. et difficile æstimamus quæ in terra sunt et quæ in prospectu sunt invenimus cum labore quæ in cælis sunt autem quis investigavit

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 shall search out?

17. sensum autem tuum quis scivit nisi tu dederis sapientiam et miseris sanctum spiritum tuum de altissimis

17. And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above:

18. et sic correctæ sunt semitæ eorum qui in terris sunt et quæ tibi placent didicerunt homines

18. And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?

19. et per sapientiam sanati sunt

19. For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.