Whereas all men have the like birth and death, 7. Wisdom maketh great difference, bringing all goodness, 13. and knowledge, 17. as well of natural things, 22. as moral. 25. Which heavenly gift is a sparkle, and participation of wisdom increated, God himself.Wheras al men haue the like birth and death, 7. Wisdom maketh great difference, bringing al goodnes, 13. and knowlege, 17. as wel of natural thinges, 22. as moral. 25. Which heauenlie gift is a sparckle, and participation of wisdom increated, God himself.✦
The second part. Wisdom proceedeth from God, and is procured by prayer.The second part. VVisdom procedeth from God, and is procured by prayer.
I ALSO quidem: certainly, indeed am a mortal man, like to all, and of the earthly kindred of him, that was made first, and in the womb of my mother was I fashioned flesh,I ALSO certes am a mortal man, like to al, and of the earthlie kinred of him, that was made first, and in the wombe of my mother was I fashioned flesh,✦Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est : et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro ;
2the time of ten months was I brought together in blood, of the seed of man, and the delectation of sleep concurring.the time of ten monethes was I brought together in bloud, of the seede of man, and the delectation of sleepe concurring.decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine : ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.
3And I being born received the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice like to all men did I put forth weeping.And I being borne receiued the common ayre, and fel vpon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice like to al men did I put forth weeping.✦Et ego natus accepi communem aërem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.
4I was nourished in swaddling clothes, and great cares.I was nourished in swadling clothes, and great cares.In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis :
5For none of the kings had other beginning of nativity.For none of the kinges had other begynning of natiuitie.✦nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.
6There is one entrance therefore into life to all men, and like departure.There is one entrance therfore into life to al men, and like departure.✦Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.
7For this cause I wished, and understanding was given me: and I invocated, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:For this cause I wished, and vnderstanding was geuen me: and I inuocated, and the spirit of wisdom came vpon me:✦Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus ; et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ :
8and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and riches I counted to be nothing in comparison of her.and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and riches I counted to be nothing in comparison of her.✦et præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.
9Neither did I compare the precious stone to her: because all gold in comparison of her, is a little sand, and silver in the sight of her shall be esteemed as clay.Neither did I compare the precious stone to her: because al gold in comparison of her, is a litle sand, and siluer in the sight of her shal be estemed as clay.✦Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.
10Above health and beauty did I love her, and purposed to have her for light: because her light can not be extinguished.Aboue health and beautie did I loue her, and purposed to haue her for light: because her light can not be extinguished.✦Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam, quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.
11And all good things came to me together with her, and very much honestas: truthfulness; comeliness, honour, seemliness by her hands,And al good thinges came to me together with her, and very much honestie by her handes,✦Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius ;
12and I rejoiced in all: because this wisdom went before me, and I was ignorant that she is the mother of all these.and I reioyced in al: because this wisdom went before me, and I was ignorant that she is the mother of al these.✦et lætatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.
13Which I learned without fictione: an invented story; dissembling, guile, and do communicate without envy, and her honesty I hid not.Which I lerned without fiction, and doe communicate without enuie, and her honestie I hid not.✦Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.
14For she is an infinite treasure to men: which who so have, are made partakers of the friendship of God, commended for the gifts of discipline.For she is an infinite treasure to men: which who so haue, are made partakers of the frenship of God, commended for the gifts of discipline.✦Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus ; quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei, propter disciplinæ dona commendati.
15And to me God hath given to speak according to my mind, and to presume things worthy of those, that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the creator of the wise:And to me God hath geuen to speake according to my minde, and to presume thinges worthie of those, that are geuen me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the creator of the wise:✦Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur : quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est, et sapientium emendator.
16for in his hand are both we, & our words, and wisdom, and the knowledge and discipline of works.for in his hand are both we, & our wordes, and wisdom, and the knowlege and discipline of workes.✦In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.
17For he gave me the true knowledge of those things, which are: that I may know the disposition of the round world, and the virtues of the elements,For he gaue me the true knowlege of those thinges, which are: that I may know the disposition of the round world, and the vertues of the elements,✦Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,
18the beginning, & end, & midst of times, the permutations of changeable seasons, and consummationes: completings, bringings to a full end of times,the beginning, & end, & middes of times, the permutations of changeable seasons, and consummations of times,✦initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,
19the courses of the year, and dispositions of the stars,the courses of the yeare, and dispositions of the starres,✦anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,
20the natures of beasts, and furies of wild beasts, the force of winds, and the cogitationes: thoughts, the workings of the mind of men, the differences of plants, and virtues of roots,the natures of beastes, and furies of wilde beastes, the force of windes, and the cogitations of men, the differences of plantes, and vertues of rootes,✦naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum.
21and whatsoever are hid things and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom the worker of all taught me.and whatsoeuer are hid thinges and not forsene, I haue lerned: for wisdom the worker of al taught me.✦Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici : omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.
22For in her is the spirit of understanding, holy, only, manifold, subtle, eloquent, moveable, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving good, sharp, who nothing hindereth well doing,For in her is the spirite of vnderstanding, holie, onlie, manifold, subtil, eloquent, moueable, vndefiled, sure, swete, louing good, sharpe, who nothing hindereth wel doing,✦Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,
23gentle, benign, stable, certain, secure, having all power, foreseeing all things, and that containeth all spirits: intelligible, clean, subtle.gentle, benigne, stable, certaine, secure, hauing al powre, forseing al thinges, and that conteyneth al spirites: intelligible, cleane, subtile.✦humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.
24For wisdom is more moveable than all moveable things: and reacheth every where because of her cleanness.For wisdom is more moueable then al moueable thinges: and reacheth euerie where because of her cleannes.✦Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia : attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.
25For she is a vapour of the power of God, & a certain sincera: heartfelt, genuine; pure, unmixed, uncorrupted emanation of the glory of God omnipotent: and therefore no defiled thing cometh unto her.For she is a vapour of the powre of God, & a certaine sincere emanation of the glorie of God omnipotent: and therfore no defiled thing cometh vnto her.✦Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera, et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit :
26For she is the brightness of eternal light, & the unspotted glass of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.For she is the brightnes of eternal light, & the vnspotted glasse of Gods maiestie, and the image of his goodnes.✦candor est enim lucis æternæ, et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.
27And whereas she is one, she can do all things: and permanent in herself she reneweth all things, and by nations transporteth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God, and Prophets.And wheras she is one, she can doe al thinges: and permanent in herselfe she reneweth al thinges, and by nations transporteth herself into holie soules, she maketh the frendes of God, and Prophetes.✦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.
28For God loveth none, but him, that dwelleth with wisdom.For God loueth none, but him, that dwelleth with wisdom.✦Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.
29For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all disposition of the stars, being compared to light she is found the first.For she is more beautiful then the sunne, and aboue al disposition of the starres, being compared to light she is found the first.✦Est enim hæc speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum : luci comparata, invenitur prior.
30For night succeedeth to it, but malice overcometh not wisdom.For night succedeth to it, but malice ouercometh not wisdom.✦Illi enim succedit nox ; sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.