Liber Sapientiae

Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est: et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro;

I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.

Es quidem et me mortali homine, simili ad omni, et ex genere terreno de illo qui priore facto es: et in ventre de matre figura es carne;

decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine: ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.

In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.

Deceme de mense tempore coagula es in sanguine: ex semine de homine, et delectamento de somno conveni.

Et ego natus accepi communem aërem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.

And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.

Et me nato accipe communi aëra, et in similiter fac decide terra, et primo voce simili ad omni emitte plora.

In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis:

I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.

In involumentos nutri es, et curas magna:

nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.

For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

Nemo nam ex reges alio habe de nativitate initio.

Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.

For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

Uno ergo introitu es ad omni ad vita, et simili exitu.

Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus; et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:

Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:

Propter hoc opta, et dato es ad me sensu; et invoca, et spiritu in me de sapientia veni:

et præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.

And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

Et praepone illa ad regnos et ad sedes, et divitias nihil es duc in comparatione de illo.

Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.

Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to her, shall be counted as clay.

Nec compara ad illo lapide pretioso, quia omni auro in comparatione de illo arena es exiguo, et sicut luto argento aestima in conspectu de illo.

Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam, quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.

I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.

Super salute et specie dilige illa, et propone pro luce habere illa, quia inextinguibili es lumine de illo.

Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;

Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands,

Veni autem ad me omni bono pariter cum illa, et innumerabile honestate per manus de illo;

et lætatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.

And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.

Et laetor es in omni, quia isto sapientia antecede me, et ignora quia de hoc de omni matre es.

Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.

Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.

Quam sine fictione disce, et sine invidia communica, et honestate de illo non absconde.

Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus; quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei, propter disciplinæ dona commendati.

For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.

Infinita nam thesauro es ad homines; quo qui ute es, participes fac es de amicitia de Deo, propter disciplina donos commenda.

Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur: quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est, et sapientium emendator.

And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:

Ad me autem Deo da dicere ex sententia, et praesume digna de hoc que ad me da: quia ipso de sapientia duce es, et sapiens emendatore.

In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.

For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.

In manu nam de illo et nos et sermones nostro, et omni sapientia, et de operes scientia, et disciplina.

Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,

For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements,

Ipso nam da ad me de hoc que es scientia verissimo, ut sci dispositione de orbe de terras, et virtutes de elementos,

initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,

The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,

Initio, et consummatione, et medietate de tempores, de vicissitudines permutationes, et commutationes de tempores,

anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,

The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,

De anno cursus, et de stellas dispositiones,

naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum.

The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots,

Naturas de animales, et iras de bestias, vi de ventos, et cogitationes de homines, differentias de virgultores, et virtutes de radices.

Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici: omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.

And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.

Et omni es absconsos et improviso disce: de omni nam artifice doce me sapientia.

Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,

For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,

Es nam in illa de spiritu de intelligentia, sancto, unico, multiplice, subtile, dissere, mobile, incoinquina, certo, suavi, amante bono, acuta, nihil veta quem, beneface,

humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.

Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, subtile:

Humano, benigno, stabile, certo, securo, omni habente virtute, omni prospice, et qui cape omni spiritu, intelligibile, mundo, subtile.

Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia: attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.

For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth everywhere, by reason of her purity.

Ad omni nam mobile mobile es sapientia: attinge autem in omni loco propter suo munditia.

Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera, et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:

For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.

Vapore es nam de virtute de Deo, et emanatione uno es de claritate omnipotente de Deo sincera, et ideo nihil inquina in illa incurre:

candor est enim lucis æternæ, et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.

For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.

Candore es nam de luce aeterno, et speculo sine macula de Deo maiestate, et imagine de bonitate de illo.

Et cum sit una, omnia potest; et in se permanens omnia innovat: et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert; amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.

And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.

Et cum es uno, omni pote; et in se permane omni innova: et per nationes in animas sancto se transfer; amicos de Deo et prophetas constitue.

Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.

For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

Nemine nam dilige Deo, nisi illo qui cum sapientia inhabita.

Est enim hæc speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum: luci comparata, invenitur prior.

For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

Es nam hoc specuoso sole, et super omni dispositione de stellas: de luce compara, inveni priore.

Illi enim succedit nox; sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.

For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.

Illo nam nocte succede; sapientia autem non vince malitia.