Wisdom excelling all things, that can be desired, 9. is worthily preferred as the cause of much estimation, 13. and of immortal glory, 16. without molestation. 21. All which is God's gift.VVisdom excelling al thinges, that can be desired, 9. is worthely preferred as the cause of much estimation, 13. and of immortal glorie, 16. without molestation. 21. Al which is Gods gift.✦
She reacheth therefore from end unto end mightily, and disposeth all things sweetly.SHE reacheth therfore from end vnto end mightely, and disposeth al thinges swetely.✦Attingit ergo a fine usque ad finem fortiter, et disponit omnia suaviter.
2Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have sought to take her for my spouse, and I was made a lover of her beauty.Her haue I loued, and haue sought her out from my youth, and haue sought to take her for my spouse, and I was made a louer of her beautie.✦Hanc amavi, et exquisivi a juventute mea, et quæsivi sponsam mihi eam assumere, et amator factus sum formæ illius.
3She glorifieth her nobility, having contubernium: fellowship, companionship with God: yea and the Lord of all hath loved her.She glorifieth her nobilitie, hauing consociation with God: yea and the Lord of al hath loued her.✦Generositatem illius glorificat, contubernium habens Dei ; sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam.
4For she is the doctrix: a woman in an illicit relationship; woman-teacher, instructress of the discipline of God, & the chooser of his works.For she is the mistresse of the discipline of God, & the chooser of his workes.✦Doctrix enim est disciplinæ Dei, et electrix operum illius.
5And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which worketh all things?And if riches be desired in life, what is richer then wisdom, which worketh al thinges?✦Et si divitiæ appetuntur in vita, quid sapientia locupletius quæ operatur omnia ?
6And if understanding do work: who is the worker of those things that are, more than she?And if vnderstanding doe worke: who is the worker of those things that are, more then she?✦Si autem sensus operatur, quis horum quæ sunt magis quam illa est artifex ?
7And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she teacheth sobriety, and prudence, and justice, and strength, than the which nothing is more profitable in life to men.And if a man loue iustice: her labours haue great vertues: for she teacheth sobrietie, and prudence, and iustice, and strength, then the which nothing is more profitable in life to men.✦Et si justitiam quis diligit, labores hujus magnas habent virtutes : sobrietatem enim et prudentiam docet, et justitiam, et virtutem, quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus.
8And if a man desire multitude of knowledge: she knoweth things past, & conjectureth of things to come: she knoweth the subtleties of words, and the solution of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.And if a man desire multitude of knowlege: she knoweth thinges past, & coniectureth of thinges to come: she knoweth the subtilities of wordes, and the solution of arguments: she knoweth signes and wonders before they be done, and the euentes of times and ages.✦Et si multitudinem scientiæ desiderat quis, scit præterita, et de futuris æstimat ; scit versutias sermonum, et dissolutiones argumentorum ; signa et monstra scit antequam fiant, et eventus temporum et sæculorum.
9I purposed therefore to bring her to me to live together: knowing that she will communicate unto me of good things, and will be a comfort of my cogitationis: thought, the working of the mind and taedii: boredom; weariness, irksomeness.I purposed therfore to bring her to me to liue together: knowing that she wil communicate vnto me of good thinges, and wil be a comfort of my cogitation & tediousnes.✦Proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum, sciens quoniam mecum communicabit de bonis, et erit allocutio cogitationis et tædii mei.
10I shall have for her sake glory with the multitudes, and honour with the seniores: something very old; the elders, the aged being young:I shal haue for her sake glorie with the multitudes, and honour with the ancient being yong:✦Habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas, et honorem apud seniores juvenis ;
11and I shall be found sharp in judgement, and in the sight of the mighty I shall be marvellous, and the faces of princes will marvel at me.and I shal be found sharpe in iudgement, and in the sight of the mightie I shal be meruelous, and the faces of princes wil meruel at me.✦et acutus inveniar in judicio, et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero, et facies principum mirabuntur me :
12Holding my peace they shall expect me, and whiles I speak many words, they shall lay their hands on their mouth.Holding my peace they shal expect me, and whiles I speake manie wordes, they shal lay their hands on their mouth.✦tacentem me sustinebunt, et loquentem me respicient, et sermocinante me plura, manus ori suo imponent.
13Moreover by her I shall have immortality: and I shall leave an eternal memory to them, that shall be after me.Moreouer by her I shal haue immortalitie: and I shal leaue an eternal memorie to them, that shal be after me.✦Præterea habebo per hanc immortalitatem, et memoriam æternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam.
14I shall dispose peoples: and nations shall be subject to me.I shal dispose peoples: and nations shal be subiect to me.✦Disponam populos, et nationes mihi erunt subditæ :
15horrendi: nasty, dreadful; dread, awe-inspiring, formidable kings hearing shall fear me: in the multitude I shall seem good, and in battle strong.Horrible kings hearing shal feare me: in the multitude I shal seme good, and in battel strong.✦timebunt me audientes reges horrendi. In multitudine videbor bonus, et in bello fortis.
16Entering into my house, I shall rest with her: for her conversatio: talking together; manner of life, company hath no bitterness, nor her company tediousness, but joy and gladness.Entring into my house, I shal rest with her: for her conuersation hath no bitternes, nor her companie tediousnes, but ioy and gladnesse.✦Intrans in domum meam, conquiescam cum illa : non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius, nec tædium convictus illius, sed lætitiam et gaudium.
17Thinking these things with myself, and recording in my heart, that immortality is in the kindred of wisdom,Thinking these thinges with myselfe, and recording in my hart, that immortalitie is in the kindred of wisdom,✦Hæc cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo, quoniam immortalitas est in cognatione sapientiæ,
18and good delectation in her friendship, and in the works of her hands honestas: truthfulness; comeliness, honour, seemliness without defect, and wisdom in the disputation of her talk, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to me.and good delectation in her frendship, and in the workes of her handes honestie without defect, and wisdom in the disputation of her talke, and glorie in the communication of her wordes: I went about seeking, that I might take her to me.✦et in amicitia illius delectatio bona, et in operibus manuum illius honestas sine defectione, et in certamine loquelæ illius sapientia, et præclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius : circuibam quærens, ut mihi illam assumerem.
19And I was a ingeniosus: humorous; clever, ingenious, quick-minded child, and had gotten a good soul.And I was a wittie childe, and had gotten a good soule.✦Puer autem eram ingeniosus, et sortitus sum animam bonam.
20And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.And wheras I was more good, I came to a bodie vndefiled.✦Et cum essem magis bonus, veni ad corpus incoinquinatum.
21And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continens: a landmass; self-restrained, chaste, unless God gave it, this very thing also was wisdom, to know whose this gift was: I went to our Lord, and besought him, and said from my whole heart.And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, vnlesse God gaue it, this verie thing also was wisdom, to know whose this gift was: I went to our Lord, and besought him, and said from my whole hart.✦Et ut scivi quoniam aliter non possem esse continens, nisi Deus det ; et hoc ipsum erat sapientiæ, scire cujus esset hoc donum : adii Dominum, et deprecatus sum illum, et dixi ex totis præcordiis meis :
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.