Liber Sapientiae, 8

1. Attingit ergo a fine usque ad finem fortiter et disponit omnia suaviter.

1. She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well.

2. Hanc amavi et exquisivi a iuventute mea et quaesivi sponsam mihi eam assumere et amator factus sum formae illius. 3 Generositatem suam glorificat contubernium habens Dei, sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam.

2. I loved her and sought her from my youth, and I desired to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her beauty.

3.

3. She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her.

4. Doctrix enim est disciplinae Dei et electrix operum illius.

4. For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works.

5. Et, si divitiae sunt desiderabilis possessio in vita, quid sapientia locupletius, quae operatur omnia?

5. If riches are a desirable possession in life, what is richer than wisdom who effects all things?

6. Si autem sensus operatur, quis horum, quae sunt, magis quam illa est artifex?

6. And if understanding is effective, who more than she is fashioner of what exists?

7. Et, si iustitiam quis diligit, labores huius sunt virtutes: sobrietatem enim et prudentiam docet, iustitiam et fortitudinem, quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus.

7. And if any one loves righteousness, her labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.

8. Et, si multam peritiam desiderat quis, scit praeterita et futura conicit, novit versutias sermonum et solutiones aenigmatum, signa et monstra scit, antequam fiant, et eventus momentorum et temporum.

8. And if any one longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come; she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders and of the outcome of seasons and times.

9. Proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum, sciens quoniam erit mihi consiliaria bonorum et consolatio sollicitudinum et taedii.

9. Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief.

10. Habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas et honorem apud seniores iuvenis;

10. Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.

11. acutus inveniar in iudicio et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero.

11. I shall be found keen in judgment, and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.

12. Tacentem me sustinebunt et loquentem me respicient et, sermocinante me plura, manus ori suo imponent.

12. When I am silent they will wait for me, and when I speak they will give heed; and when I speak at greater length they will put their hands on their mouths.

13. Habebo per hanc immortalitatem et memoriam aeternam his, qui post me futuri sunt, relinquam.

13. Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.

14. Disponam populos, et nationes mihi erunt subditae;

14. I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me;

15. timebunt me audientes reges horrendi, in multitudine videbor bonus et in bello fortis.

15. dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.

16. Intrans in domum meam, conquiescam cum illa; non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius nec taedium convictus illius, sed laetitiam et gaudium.

16. When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.

17. Haec cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo quoniam immortalitas est in cognatione sapientiae,

17. When I considered these things inwardly, and thought upon them in my mind, that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,

18. et in amicitia illius delectatio bona, et in laboribus manuum illius divitiae sine defectione, et in certamine loquelae illius sapientia, et praeclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius, circuibam quaerens, ut mihi illam assumerem.

18. and in friendship with her, pure delight, and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, and in the experience of her company, understanding, and renown in sharing her words, I went about seeking how to get her for myself.

19. Puer autem eram ingeniosus et sortitus sum animam bonam;

19. As a child I was by nature well endowed, and a good soul fell to my lot;

20. quin potius, cum essem bonus, veni in corpus incoinquinatum.

20. or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.

21. Et, ut scivi quoniam aliter non possem esse continens, nisi Deus det, C et hoc ipsum erat sapientiae scire, cuius esset hoc donum C adii Dominum et deprecatus sum illum et dixi ex toto corde meo:

21. But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me -- and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was -- so I appealed to the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said: