Wisdom proceedeth from God, appeareth in his creatures. 10. and is given in competent measure to all that fear God, 16. it bringeth all virtues, 27. excludeth all vices, 33. and is to be sought in simplicity of heart.Wisdom proceedeth from God, appeareth in his creatures. 10. and is geuen in competent measure to al that feare God, 16. it bringeth al vertues, 27. excludeth al vices, 33. and is to be sought in simplicitie of hart.✦
All wisdom is of our Lord God, and hath been always with him, and is before all time.AL wisdom is of our Lord God, & hath bene alwayes with him, & is before al time.Multorum nobis et magnorum per legem, et prophetas, aliosque qui secuti sunt illos, sapientia demonstrata est, in quibus oportet laudare Israël doctrinæ et sapientiæ causa, quia non solum ipsos loquentes necesse est esse peritos, sed etiam extraneos posse et dicentes et scribentes doctissimos fieri. Avus meus Jesus, postquam se amplius dedit ad diligentiam lectionis legis, et prophetarum, et aliorum librorum qui nobis a parentibus nostris traditi sunt, voluit et ipse scribere aliquid horum quæ ad doctrinam et sapientiam pertinent, ut desiderantes discere, et illorum periti facti, magis magisque attendant animo, et confirmentur ad legitimam vitam. Hortor itaque venire vos cum benevolentia, et attentiori studio lectionem facere, et veniam habere in illis, in quibus videmur, sequentes imaginem sapientiæ, deficere in verborum compositione. Nam deficiunt verba hebraica, quando fuerint translata ad alteram linguam : non autem solum hæc, sed et ipsa lex, et prophetæ, ceteraque aliorum librorum non parvam habent differentiam quando inter se dicuntur. Nam in octavo et trigesimo anno temporibus Ptolemæi Evergetis regis, postquam perveni in Ægyptum, et cum multum temporis ibi fuissem, inveni ibi libros relictos, non parvæ neque contemnendæ doctrinæ. Itaque bonum et necessarium putavi et ipse aliquam addere diligentiam et laborem interpretandi librum istum : et multa vigilia attuli doctrinam in spatio temporis, ad illa quæ ad finem ducunt, librum istum dare, et illis qui volunt animum intendere, et discere quemadmodum oporteat instituere mores, qui secundum legem Domini proposuerint vitam agere. Omnis sapientia a Domino Deo est : et cum illo fuit semper, et est ante ævum.
2The sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of the world who hath numbered? The height of heaven, and breadth of the earth, and profundity of the depth who hath measured?The sand of the sea, & the droppes of rayne, & the dayes of the world who hath numbred? The height of heauen, and breadth of the earth, & profunditie of the depth who hath measured?Arenam maris, et pluviæ guttas, et dies sæculi, quis dinumeravit ? altitudinem cæli, et latitudinem terræ, et profundum abyssi, quis dimensus est ?
3The wisdom of God that goeth before all things who hath searched out?The wisdom of God that goeth before al thinges who hath searched out?sapientiam Dei præcedentem omnia, quis investigavit ?
4Wisdom was created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.Wisdom was created before al thinges, & the vnderstanding of prudence from euerlasting.Prior omnium creata est sapientia, et intellectus prudentiæ ab ævo.
5A fountain of wisdom the word of God on high, and the entrance thereof everlasting commandments.A fountayne of wisdom the word of God on high, and the entrance therof euerlasting commandments.Fons sapientiæ verbum Dei in excelsis, et ingressus illius mandata æterna.
6The root of wisdom to whom hath it been revealed, and the subtleties thereof who hath known?The roote of wisdom to whom hath it bene reueled, & the subtilties therof who hath knowen?Radix sapientiæ cui revelata est ? et astutias illius quis agnovit ?
7The discipline of wisdom to whom hath it been revealed, and made manifest, and the multiplication of her entrance who hath understood?The discipline of wisdom to whom hath it bene reueled, and made manifest, and the multiplication of her entrance who hath vnderstood?disciplina sapientiæ cui revelata est et manifestata ? et multiplicationem ingressus illius quis intellexit ?
8There is one most high Creator omnipotent, and mighty King, and to be feared exceedingly, sitting upon his throne and the God of dominion.There is one most high Creatour omnipotent, and mightie King, and to be feared exceedingly, sitting vpon his throne and the God of dominion.Unus est altissimus, Creator omnipotens, et rex potens et metuendus nimis, sedens super thronum illius, et dominans Deus.
9He created her in the Holy Ghost, and hath seen, and numbered, and measured her.He created her in the Holie Ghost, and hath sene, and nummbred, and measured her.Ipse creavit illam in Spiritu Sancto, et vidit, et dinumeravit, et mensus est :
10And he hath poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh according to his gift, and hath given her to them that fear him.And he hath powred her out vpon al his workes, and vpon al flesh according to his gift, and hath geuen her to them that feare him.et effudit illam super omnia opera sua, et super omnem carnem, secundum datum suum, et præbuit illam diligentibus se.
11The fear of our Lord is glory, and gloriatio: glorying, and joy, and a crown of exultation.The feare of our Lord is glorie, and gloriation, and ioy, and a crowne of exultation.Timor Domini gloria, et gloriatio, et lætitia, et corona exsultationis.
12The fear of our Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give joy, gladness in length of days.The feare of our Lord shal delight the hart, and shal geue ioy, gladnes in length of dayes.Timor Domini delectabit cor, et dabit lætitiam, et gaudium, et longitudinem dierum.
13With him that feareth our Lord it shall be well in the later end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.With him that feareth our Lord it shal be wel in the later end, and in the day of his death he shal be blessed.Timenti Dominum bene erit in extremis, et in die defunctionis suæ benedicetur.
14The love of God is honourable wisdom.The loue of God is honorable wisdom.Dilectio Dei honorabilis sapientia :
15But they to whom she shall appear in vision, they love her in the vision, and in the agnitio: acknowledging of her great works.But they to whom she shal appeare in vision, they loue her in the vision, and in the agnising of her great workes.✦quibus autem apparuerit in visu diligunt eam in visione, et in agnitione magnalium suorum.
16The fear of our Lord, is the beginning of wisdom, and was created with the faithful in the womb, and goeth with the elect women, and is known with the just and faithful.The feare of our Lord, is the begynning of wisdom, and was created with the faythful in the wombe, and goeth with the elect wemen, and is knowen with the iust and faythful.Initium sapientiæ timor Domini : et cum fidelibus in vulva concreatus est : cum electis feminis graditur, et cum justis et fidelibus agnoscitur.
17The fear of our Lord is religiositas: ostentatious piety; religiousness of knowledge.The feare of our Lord is religiositie of knowlege.✦Timor Domini scientiæ religiositas :
18Religiosity shall keep and justify the heart, shall give joy and gladness.Religiositie shal keepe and iustifiie the hart, shal geue ioy and gladnes.✦religiositas custodiet et justificabit cor ; jucunditatem atque gaudium dabit.
19With him that feareth our Lord it shall be well, and in the days of his consummation he shall be blessed.With him that feareth our Lord it shal be wel, and in the dayes of his consummation he shal be blessed.✦Timenti Dominum bene erit, et in diebus consummationis illius benedicetur.
20The fullness of wisdom is to fear God, and fullness is of the fruits thereof.The fulnesse of wisdom is to feare God, and fulnesse is of the fruites therof.Plenitudo sapientiæ est timere Deum, et plenitudo a fructibus illius.
21All her house she shall fill with her generations, and the storehouses with her treasures.Al her house she shal fil with her generations, and the storehouses with her treasures.✦Omnem domum illius implebit a generationibus, et receptacula a thesauris illius.
22A crown of wisdom, the fear of our Lord, replenishing place, and the fruit of salvation:A crowne of wisdom, the feare of our Lord, replenishing place, and the fruite of saluation:✦Corona sapientiæ timor Domini, replens pacem et salutis fructum :
23and he hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts of God.and he hath sene, and numbred her: but both are the giftes of God.✦et vidit, et dinumeravit eam : utraque autem sunt dona Dei.
24Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence: and exalteth the glory of them that hold it.Wisdom shal distribute knowlege, and vnderstanding of prudence: and exalteth the glorie of them that hold it.✦Scientiam et intellectum prudentiæ sapientia compartietur, et gloriam tenentium se exaltat.
25The root of wisdom is to fear our Lord: for the boughs thereof are of long time.The roote of wisdom is to feare our Lord: for the boughes therof are of long time.Radix sapientiæ est timere Dominum, et rami illius longævi.
26In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiosity of knowledge, but to sinners wisdom is abomination.In the treasures of wisdom is vnderstanding, & religiositie of knowlege, but to sinners wisdom is abomination.In thesauris sapientiæ intellectus et scientiæ religiositas : execratio autem peccatoribus sapientia.
27The fear of our Lord expelleth sin:The feare of our Lord expelleth sinne:Timor Domini expellit peccatum :
28for he that is without fear, can not be justified: for the anger of his animositas: mutual hostility; vehement passion, is his subversio: overthrow, ruin.for he that is without feare, can not be iustified: for the anger of his animositie, is his subuersion.nam qui sine timore est non poterit justificari : iracundia enim animositatis illius subversio illius est.
29Until a time the patient shall sustain, and after shall be rewarded of joyfulness.Vntil a time the patient shal susteyne, and after shal be rewarded of ioyfulnes.Usque in tempus sustinebit patiens, et postea redditio jucunditatis.
30A good understanding will hide his words until a time, and the lips of many shall show forth his understanding.A good vnderstanding wil hide his wordes vntil a time, and the lippes of manie shal shew forth his vnderstanding.Bonus sensus usque in tempus abscondet verba illius, et labia multorum enarrabunt sensum illius.
31In the treasures of wisdom is signification of discipline:In the treasures of wisdom is signification of discipline:In thesauris sapientiæ significatio disciplinæ :
32but the worship of God, is abomination to a sinner.but the worshipe of God, is abomination to a sinner.execratio autem peccatori cultura Dei.
33Son, coveting wisdom, keep justice, and God will give her to thee.Sonne, coueting wisdom, keepe iustice, and God wil geue her to thee.✦Fili, concupiscens sapientiam, conserva justitiam, et Deus præbebit illam tibi.
34For the fear of our Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which well pleaseth him,For the feare of our Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which wel pleaseth him,Sapientia enim et disciplina timor Domini : et quod beneplacitum est illi,
35is faith, and meekness, and he will fill his treasures.is fayth, and meeknes, and he wil fil his treasures.fides et mansuetudo, et adimplebit thesauros illius.
36Be not incredulous to the fear of our Lord: and come not to him with a double heart.Be not incredulous to the feare of our Lord: and come not to him with a duble hart.Ne sis incredibilis timori Domini, et ne accesseris ad illum duplici corde.
37Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and be not scandalized in thy lips.Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and be not scandalized in thy lippes.✦Ne fueris hypocrita in conspectu hominum, et non scandalizeris in labiis tuis.
38Attend to them, lest perhaps thou fall, and bring dishonour to thy soul,Attend to them, lest perhaps thou fal, and bring dishonour to thy soule,✦Attende in illis, ne forte cadas, et adducas animæ tuæ inhonorationem :
39and God reveal thy secrets, and in the midst of the synagogue cast thee down:and God reuele thy secretes, and in the middes of the synagogue cast thee downe:et revelet Deus absconsa tua, et in medio synagogæ elidat te :
40because thou camest to our Lord wickedly, and thy heart is full of guile and deceit.because thou camest to our Lord wickedly, & thy hart is ful of guile and deceite.quoniam accessisti maligne ad Dominum, et cor tuum plenum est dolo et fallacia.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.