The marvellous works of God, the author of nature, shew his power and wisdom, 12. and that true riches consist not in temporal creatures, but in wisdom, 28. and fear of God.The maruelous workes of God, the author of nature, shew his powre and wisdome, 12. and that true riches consist not in temporal creatures, but in wisdome, 28. and feare of God.✦
Silver hath beginnings of her veins, and gold hathSILVER hath beginnings of her vaines, and gold hathHabet argentum venarum suarum principia, et auro locus est in quo conflatur.
2a place, where in it is molten. Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone resolved with heat, is turned into brass.a place, where in it is molten. Yron is taken out of the earth, and stone resolued with heate, is turned into brasse.Ferrum de terra tollitur, et lapis solutus calore in æs vertitur.
3He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also of darkness, and the shadowHe hath set a time for darkenesse, and the end of al thinges he considereth, the stone also of darkenesse, and the shadow✦Tempus posuit tenebris, et universorum finem ipse considerat : lapidem quoque caliginis et umbram mortis.
4of death. The torrent divideth from the peregrinante: religious traveller; wandering or sojourning people, them whom the foot of the needy man hath forgotten, andof death. The torrent diuideth from the pilgrime people, them whom the foote of the needie man hath forgotten, andDividit torrens a populo peregrinante eos quos oblitus est pes egentis hominis, et invios.
5to whom there is no way. The land, out of which breadto whom there is no way. The land, out of which breadTerra de qua oriebatur panis, in loco suo igni subversa est.
6grew in his place, is destroyed with fire. The place of thegrew in his place, is destroyed with fire. The place of the✦Locus sapphiri lapides ejus, et glebæ illius aurum.
7sapphire the stones thereof, and the clods of it gold. The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of thesapphire the stones thereof, and the cloddes of it gold. The bird hath not knowen the path, neither hath the eie of the✦Semitam ignoravit avis, nec intuitus est eam oculus vulturis.
8vulture beheld it. The children of merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it. He hath stretchedvulter beheld it. The children of merchantes haue not troden it, neither hath the lionesse passed by it. He hath stret-✦Non calcaverunt eam filii institorum, nec pertransivit per eam leæna.
9forth his hand to the flint, he hath overthrown mountainsched forth his hand to the flint, he hath ouerthrowen moun-✦Ad silicem extendit manum suam : subvertit a radicibus montes.
10from the roots. In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.taines from the rootes. In the rockes he hath cut out riuers, and his eie hath seene euerie pretious thing.✦In petris rivos excidit, et omne pretiosum vidit oculus ejus.
11The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hid things he hath brought forth to light:The depthes also of riuers he hath searched, & hid things he hath brought forth to light:✦Profunda quoque fluviorum scrutatus est, et abscondita in lucem produxit.
12But where is wisdom to be found, and what is the place of understanding?But where is wisdome to be found, and what is the place of vnderstanding?Sapientia vero ubi invenitur ? et quis est locus intelligentiæ ?
13Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live pleasantly.Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that liue pleasently.Nescit homo pretium ejus, nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium.
14The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea speaketh: It is not with me.The depth sayth: It is not in me: and the sea speaketh: It is not with me.Abyssus dicit : Non est in me, et mare loquitur : Non est mecum.
15The finest gold shall not be given for it, neither shall silver be weighed in the change thereof.The finest gold shal not be geuen for it, neither shal siluer be weyed in the change therof.✦Non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea, nec appendetur argentum in commutatione ejus.
16It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, nor with Sardonyx the most precious stone, or with the Sapphire.It shal not be compared with the died colours of India, nor with Sardonyx the most pretious stone, or with the Sapphire.✦Non conferetur tinctis Indiæ coloribus, nec lapidi sardonycho pretiosissimo vel sapphiro.
17Gold or glass shall not be equal to it, neither shall vessels of gold be changed for it.Gold or glasse shal not be equal to it, neither shal vessels of gold be changed for it.✦Non adæquabitur ei aurum vel vitrum, nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri.
18High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: and wisdom is drawn out of secret places.High and eminent thinges shal not be mentioned in comparison of it: and wisdom is drawen out of secrete places.✦Excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur comparatione ejus : trahitur autem sapientia de occultis.
19The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.The topazius of Æthiopia shal not be equal to it, neither shal it be compared to the cleanest dijng.✦Non adæquabitur ei topazius de Æthiopia, nec tincturæ mundissimæ componetur.
20From whence then cometh wisdom? and what is the place of understanding?From whence then cometh wisedom? and what is the place of vnderstanding?✦Unde ergo sapientia venit ? et quis est locus intelligentiæ ?
21It is hid from the eyes of all living, the fowls of the air also know it not.It is hid from the eies of al liuing, the foules of the ayre also know it not.Abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium : volucres quoque cæli latet.
22Perdition and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fama: renown; report or rumour thereof.Perdition and death haue sayd: With our eares we haue heard the fame therof.✦Perditio et mors dixerunt : Auribus nostris audivimus famam ejus.
23God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.God vnderstandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place therof.Deus intelligit viam ejus, et ipse novit locum illius.
24For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.For he beholdeth the endes of the world: & looketh on al thinges that are vnder heauen.✦Ipse enim fines mundi intuetur, et omnia quæ sub cælo sunt respicit.
25Who made a pondus: balance or composure; weight to the winds, and weighed the waters in a measure.Who made a poise to the windes, and weyed the waters in a measure.Qui fecit ventis pondus, et aquas appendit in mensura.
26When he gave a law to the rains, and a way to the sounding storms.When he gaue a lawe to the raynes, and a way to the sounding stormes.✦Quando ponebat pluviis legem, et viam procellis sonantibus :
27Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared and searched it.Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared and searched it.tunc vidit illam et enarravit, et præparavit, et investigavit.
28And he said to man: Behold the fear of our Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil understanding.And he sayd to man: Behold the feare of our Lord, that is wisedom: and to depart from euil vnderstanding.✦Et dixit homini : Ecce timor Domini, ipsa est sapientia ; et recedere a malo, intelligentia.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.