True and laudable Wisdom, 5. proceeding from God, 6. shineth in his works: 12. especially in his Church; where she bringeth forth all virtues. 26. She inviteth all unto her. 44. and lighteneth her followers with splendour of doctrine.True and laudable Wisdom 5. proceding from God, 6. shineth in his workes: 12. especially in his Church; where she bringeth forth al vertues. 26. She inuiteth al vnto her. 44. and lighteneth her folowers with splendore of doctrine.✦
Wisdom shall praise her soul, and shall be honoured in God, and shall glory in the midst of her people,VVisdom shal praise her soule, & shal be honoured in God, and shal glorie in the middes of her people,Sapientia laudabit animam suam, et in Deo honorabitur, et in medio populi sui gloriabitur,
2and shall open her mouth in the churches of the Highest, and shall glory in the sight of his power,and shal open her mouth in the churches of the Highest, and shal glorie in the sight of his power,et in ecclesiis Altissimi aperiet os suum, et in conspectu virtutis illius gloriabitur,
3and in the midst of her people she shall be exalted, and in the holy assembly she shall be admired,and in the middes of her people she shal be exalted, and in the holie assemblie she shal be admired,et in medio populi sui exaltabitur, et in plenitudine sancta admirabitur,
4and in the multitude of the elect she shall have praise, and among the blessed, she shall be blessed, saying:and in the multitude of the elect she shal haue praise, and among the blessed, she shal be blessed, saying:et in multitudine electorum habebit laudem, et inter benedictos benedicetur, dicens :
5I come forth from the mouth of the Highest, the first begotten before all creatures.I come forth from the mouth of the Highest, the first begotten before al creatures.Ego ex ore Altissimi prodivi, primogenita ante omnem creaturam.
6I made that in the heavens there should rise light that faileth not, and as a cloud I covered all the earth.I made that in the heauens there should rise light that faileth not, and as a cloud I couered al the earth.Ego feci in cælis ut oriretur lumen indeficiens, et sicut nebula texi omnem terram.
7I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloude.Ego in altissimis habitavi, et thronus meus in columna nubis.
8I alone have gone round about the compass of heaven, and have penetrated into the bottom of the depth, and have walked in the waves of the sea,I alone haue gone round about the compasse of heauen, and haue penetrated into the bottome of the depth, and haue walked in the waues of the sea,✦Gyrum cæli circuivi sola, et profundum abyssi penetravi : in fluctibus maris ambulavi.
9and stood in all the earth: and in all people,and stood in al the earth: and in al people,Et in omni terra steti : et in omni populo,
10and in every nation I have had the primacy:and in euerie nation I haue had the primacie:et in omni gente primatum habui :
11and I have by strength trodden down the hearts of all the excellent, and the base; and in all these things I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of our Lord.and I haue by strength troden downe the hartes of al the excellent, and the base; and in al these thinges I sought rest, & I shal abide in the inheritance of our Lord.et omnium excellentium et humilium corda virtute calcavi. Et in his omnibus requiem quæsivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor.
12Then the creator of all commanded, and said to me: and he that created me, rested in my tabernacle,Then the creatour of al commanded, and said to me: & he that created me, rested in my tabernacle,✦Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium : et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo.
13and he said to me: Inhabit in Jacob, and inherit in Israel, and take root in mine elect.and he said to me: Inhabite in Iacob, and inherite in Israel, and take roote in myne elect.✦Et dixit mihi : In Jacob inhabita, et in Israël hæreditare, et in electis meis mitte radices.
14From the beginning and before the worlds was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease, and in the holy habitation I have ministered before him.From the beginning and before the worlds was I created, and vnto the world to come I shal not cease, and in the holie habitation I haue ministred before him.✦Ab initio et ante sæcula creata sum, et usque ad futurum sæculum non desinam : et in habitatione sancta coram ipso ministravi.
15And so in Sion was I established, and in the sanctified city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.And so in Sion was I established, and in the sanctified cittie likewise I rested, and my power was in Ierusalem.✦Et sic in Sion firmata sum, et in civitate sanctificata similiter requievi, et in Jerusalem potestas mea.
16And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abiding is in the full assembly of saints.And I tooke roote in an honorable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abiding is in the ful assemblie of saintes.✦Et radicavi in populo honorificato, et in parte Dei mei hæreditas illius, et in plenitudine sanctorum detentio mea.
17I am exalted as a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree in mount Sion.I am exalted as a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypres tree in mount Sion.✦Quasi cedrus exaltata sum in Libano, et quasi cypressus in monte Sion :
18As a palm tree in Cades am I exalted, and as a rose plant in Jericho:As a palme tree in Cades am I exalted, and as a rose plant in Iericho:✦quasi palma exaltata sum in Cades, et quasi plantatio rosæ in Jericho :
19As a fair olive tree in the fields, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets am I exalted.As a faire oliue tree in the fieldes, and as a plane tree by the water in the streates am I exalted.✦quasi oliva speciosa in campis, et quasi platanus exaltata sum juxta aquam in plateis.
20I gave an odour as cinnamon, and aromatical balm: as chosen myrrh have I given the sweetness of odour:I gaue an odour as cinnamon, & aromatical balme: as chosen myrrhe haue I geuen the sweetenes of odour:✦Sicut cinnamomum et balsamum aromatizans odorem dedi ; quasi myrrha electa dedi suavitatem odoris :
21and as storax, and galbanum, and onyx, and aloes, and as Libanus not cut, have I perfumed mine habitation, and mine odour is as balm non mingled.and as storax, and galbanum, and onyx, and aloes, and as Libanus not cut, haue I perfumed myne habitation, and myne odour is as baulme non mingled.et quasi storax, et galbanus, et ungula, et gutta, et quasi Libanus non incisus vaporavi habitationem meam, et quasi balsamum non mistum odor meus.
22I have spread out my boughs as the terebinth, and my boughs are of honour and grace.I haue spred out my boughes as the terebinth, and my boughes are of honour and grace.Ego quasi terebinthus extendi ramos meos, et rami mei honoris et gratiæ.
23I as a vine have fructified sweetness of odour: and my flowers are fruit of honour and honestatis: honourableness, comeliness, not truthfulness.I as a vine haue fructified sweetenes of odour: and my flowers are fruite of honour and honestie.Ego quasi vitis fructificavi suavitatem odoris : et flores mei fructus honoris et honestatis.
24I am the mother of beautiful love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.I am the mother of beautiful loue, and of feare, and of knowlege, and of holie hope.Ego mater pulchræ dilectionis, et timoris, et agnitionis, et sanctæ spei.
25In me is all grace of way and truth, in me all hope of life and virtue.In me is al grace of way and truth, in me al hope of life and vertue.In me gratia omnis viæ et veritatis : in me omnis spes vitæ et virtutis.
26Pass to me all ye that desire me, and be filled of my generations.Passe to me al ye that desire me, and be filled of my generations.Transite ad me, omnes qui concupiscitis me, et a generationibus meis implemini :
27For my spirit is sweet above honey, and mine inheritance above honey and the honeycomb.For my spirit is sweete aboue honie, and myne inheritance aboue honie and the honie combe.spiritus enim meus super mel dulcis, et hæreditas mea super mel et favum.
28My memory is unto generations of worlds.My memorie is vnto generations of worldes.Memoria mea in generationes sæculorum.
29They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst.They that eate me, shal yet hunger: and they that drinke me, shal yet thirst.✦Qui edunt me, adhuc esurient, et qui bibunt me, adhuc sitient.
30He that heareth me, shall not be confounded: and they that work in me, shall not sin.He that heareth me, shal not be confounded: and they that worke in me, shal not sinne.✦Qui audit me non confundetur, et qui operantur in me non peccabunt :
31They that elucidant: expound, set forth, make clear me, shall have life everlasting.They that explicate me, shal haue life euerlasting.✦qui elucidant me, vitam æternam habebunt.
32All these things are the book of life, and the testament of the Highest, and the knowledge of truth.Al these thinges are the booke of life, and the testament of the Highest, & the knowlege of truth.Hæc omnia liber vitæ, et testamentum Altissimi, et agnitio veritatis.
33Moyses commanded a law in the precepts of justitiarum: ordinances of righteousness, the requirements of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.Moyses commanded a law in the preceptes of iustices, and an inheritance to the house of Iacob, and the promises to Israel.Legem mandavit Moyses in præceptis justitiarum, et hæreditatem domui Jacob, et Israël promissiones.
34He appointed to David his servant for to raise up a king of him most strong, and sitting in the throne of honour for ever.He appointed to Dauid his seruant for to raise vp a king of him most strong, and sitting in the throne of honour for euer.Posuit David, puero suo, excitare regem ex ipso fortissimum, et in throno honoris sedentem in sempiternum.
35Who filleth wisdom as Phison, and as Tigris in the days of new fruits.Who filleth wisdom as Phison, and as Tigris in the daies of new fruites.Qui implet quasi Phison sapientiam, et sicut Tigris in diebus novorum :
36Who replenisheth understanding as Euphrates, who multiplieth it as Jordan in the time of harvest.Who replenisheth vnderstanding as Euphrates, who multiplieth it as Iordan in the time of haruest.✦qui adimplet quasi Euphrates sensum, qui multiplicat quasi Jordanis in tempore messis :
37Who sendeth discipline as the light, and assisting as Gehon in the day of vintage.Who sendeth discipline as the light, and assisting as Gehon in the day of vintage.✦qui mittit disciplinam sicut lucem, et assistens quasi Gehon in die vindemiæ.
38Who first hath perfect knowledge of it, and a weaker shall not search it out.Who first hath perfect knowledge of it, & a weaker shal not searche it out.✦Qui perficit primus scire ipsam, et infirmior non investigabit eam.
39For her cogitatio: her thought, deliberate reflection shall abound above the sea, and her counsels above the great depth.For her cogitation shal abound aboue the sea, and her counsels aboue the greate depth.✦A mari enim abundavit cogitatio ejus, et consilium illius ab abysso magna.
40I wisdom have poured out rivers.I wisdom haue powred out riuers.✦Ego sapientia effudi flumina :
41I as a trames: an artificial water-channel, a watercourse of a mighty water out of the river, I as the river Dioryx, and as a water aquæductus: an aqueduct, a built water-channel I came out of paradise.I as a sluse of a mightie water out of the riuer, I as the riuer Dioryx, & as a water coundite I came out of paradise.✦ego quasi trames aquæ immensæ de fluvio : ego quasi fluvii dioryx, et sicut aquæductus exivi de paradiso.
42I said: I will water my garden of plants, and will inebriabo: water abundantly, drench, not intoxicate the fruit of my meadow.I said: I wil water my garden of plantes, and wil inebriate the fruite of my medow.✦Dixi : Rigabo hortum meum plantationum, et inebriabo prati mei fructum.
43And behold my sluice was made abundant, and my river came near to a sea.And behold my sluse was made aboundant, and my riuer came neere to a sea.✦Et ecce factus est mihi trames abundans, et fluvius meus appropinquavit ad mare :
44Because I illuminated doctrine to all as the morning light, and I will declare it far.Because I illuminated doctrine to al as the morning light, & I wil declare it far.✦quoniam doctrinam quasi antelucanum illumino omnibus, et enarrabo illam usque ad longinquum.
45I will penetrate all the inferior parts of the earth, and will behold all that sleep, and will illuminate all that hope in our Lord.I wil penetrate al the inferiour partes of the earth, and wil behold al that sleepe, and wil illuminate al that hope in our Lord.✦Penetrabo omnes inferiores partes terræ, et inspiciam omnes dormientes, et illuminabo omnes sperantes in Domino.
46I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and will leave it to them that seek wisdom, and will not cease unto their progenies even to the holy age.I wil yet powre out doctrine as prophecie, and wil leaue it to them that seeke wisdom, and wil not cease vnto their progenies euen to the holie age.✦Adhuc doctrinam quasi prophetiam effundam, et relinquam illam quærentibus sapientiam, et non desinam in progenies illorum usque in ævum sanctum.
47See ye that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that seek out the truth.See ye that I haue not laboured for myself only, but for al that seeke out the truth.✦Videte quoniam non soli mihi laboravi, sed omnibus exquirentibus veritatem.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.