¹Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo,Certainly, I myself am also a mortal man,similis omnibus,like everyone,et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est:and the offspring of this earth, which was made beforehand;et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro;and in my mother’s womb I was fashioned with care,

¹Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo,Certainly, I myself am also a mortal man,similis omnibus,like everyone,et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est:and the offspring of this earth, which was made beforehand;et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro;and in my mother’s womb I was fashioned with care,

²decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine:within the time of ten months,ex semine hominis,made of blood,et delectamento somni conveniente.from the seed of man and the delight of sleeping together.

²decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine:within the time of ten months,ex semine hominis,made of blood,et delectamento somni conveniente.from the seed of man and the delight of sleeping together.

³Et ego natus accepi communem aërem,And when I was born, I drew in the common air,et in similiter factam decidi terram,and in similar fashion, I fell upon the earth,et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.and the first voice I uttered, like everyone, was crying.

³Et ego natus accepi communem aërem,And when I was born, I drew in the common air,et in similiter factam decidi terram,and in similar fashion, I fell upon the earth,et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.and the first voice I uttered, like everyone, was crying.

⁴In involumentis nutritus sum,I was nursed in swaddling clotheset curis magnis:and with great care.

⁴In involumentis nutritus sum,I was nursed in swaddling clotheset curis magnis:and with great care.

⁵nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

⁵nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

⁶Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam,Therefore, there is only one entrance for everyone into life,et similis exitus.and the same in leaving.

⁶Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam,Therefore, there is only one entrance for everyone into life,et similis exitus.and the same in leaving.

⁷Propter hoc optavi,Because of this, I chose,et datus est mihi sensus;and understanding was given to me;et invocavi,and I prayed,et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:and the spirit of wisdom came to me;

⁷Propter hoc optavi,Because of this, I chose,et datus est mihi sensus;and understanding was given to me;et invocavi,and I prayed,et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:and the spirit of wisdom came to me;

⁸et præposui illam regnis et sedibus,and I placed her before kingdoms and thrones,et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.and I considered riches nothing in comparison with her.

⁸et præposui illam regnis et sedibus,and I placed her before kingdoms and thrones,et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.and I considered riches nothing in comparison with her.

⁹Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum,Neither did I compare to her a precious stone,quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua,for all gold in comparison with her is like a little sand,et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.and silver, in view of her, will be valued as if dirt.

⁹Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum,Neither did I compare to her a precious stone,quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua,for all gold in comparison with her is like a little sand,et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.and silver, in view of her, will be valued as if dirt.

¹⁰Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam,I loved her above health and beauty,et proposui pro luce habere illam,and I placed having her before light,quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.for her light is unfailing.

¹⁰Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam,I loved her above health and beauty,et proposui pro luce habere illam,and I placed having her before light,quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.for her light is unfailing.

¹¹Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa,Yet all good things came to me together with her,et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;and innumerable honors by her hand;

¹¹Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa,Yet all good things came to me together with her,et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;and innumerable honors by her hand;

¹²et lætatus sum in omnibus,and I rejoiced in all these,quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia,because this wisdom went before me,et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.although I did not know that she is the mother of them all.

¹²et lætatus sum in omnibus,and I rejoiced in all these,quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia,because this wisdom went before me,et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.although I did not know that she is the mother of them all.

¹³Quam sine fictione didici,This I have learned without falsehoodet sine invidia communico,and communicate without envy,et honestatem illius non abscondo.and her integrity I do not hide.

¹³Quam sine fictione didici,This I have learned without falsehoodet sine invidia communico,and communicate without envy,et honestatem illius non abscondo.and her integrity I do not hide.

¹⁴Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus;Indeed, she is an infinite treasure chest for men,quo qui usi sunt,and those who make use of it,participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei,become partakers in the friendship of God,propter disciplinæ dona commendati.because they are recommended by the gifts of instruction.

¹⁴Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus;Indeed, she is an infinite treasure chest for men,quo qui usi sunt,and those who make use of it,participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei,become partakers in the friendship of God,propter disciplinæ dona commendati.because they are recommended by the gifts of instruction.

¹⁵Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia,Yet God has given to me to speak my mind,et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur:and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given to me,quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est,because he is the leader of wisdomet sapientium emendator.and the repairer of understanding.

¹⁵Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia,Yet God has given to me to speak my mind,et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur:and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given to me,quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est,because he is the leader of wisdomet sapientium emendator.and the repairer of understanding.

¹⁶In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri,For in his hand are both we, and our words,et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia,and all wisdom, and the works of science,et disciplina.and instruction.

¹⁶In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri,For in his hand are both we, and our words,et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia,and all wisdom, and the works of science,et disciplina.and instruction.

¹⁷Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram,For he has given me true knowledge of these things which exist:ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum,so as to know the orderly arrangement of the world,et virtutes elementorum,and the powers of the elements,

¹⁷Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram,For he has given me true knowledge of these things which exist:ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum,so as to know the orderly arrangement of the world,et virtutes elementorum,and the powers of the elements,

¹⁸initium,the beginninget consummationem,and the endet medietatem temporum,and the midpoint of the seasons,vicissitudinum permutationes,the characteristics of changing things,et commutationes temporum,and the divisions of time,

¹⁸initium,the beginninget consummationem,and the endet medietatem temporum,and the midpoint of the seasons,vicissitudinum permutationes,the characteristics of changing things,et commutationes temporum,and the divisions of time,

¹⁹anni cursus,the courses of the years,et stellarum dispositiones,and the orderly arrangement of the stars,

¹⁹anni cursus,the courses of the years,et stellarum dispositiones,and the orderly arrangement of the stars,

²⁰naturas animalium,the natures of animals,et iras bestiarum,and the rage of wild beasts,vim ventorum,the force of winds,et cogitationes hominum,and the reasonings of men,differentias virgultorum,the diversities of plants,et virtutes radicum.and the benefits of roots,

²⁰naturas animalium,the natures of animals,et iras bestiarum,and the rage of wild beasts,vim ventorum,the force of winds,et cogitationes hominum,and the reasonings of men,differentias virgultorum,the diversities of plants,et virtutes radicum.and the benefits of roots,

²¹Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici:and all such things as are hidden and unexpected, I have learned;omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.for wisdom, the artisan of all things, taught me.

²¹Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici:and all such things as are hidden and unexpected, I have learned;omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.for wisdom, the artisan of all things, taught me.

²²Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ,For in her is the spirit of understanding:sanctus,holy,unicus,singular,multiplex,manifold,subtilis,subtle,disertus,perceptive,mobilis,lively,incoinquinatus,chaste,certus,reliable,suavis,gracious,amans bonum,loving,acutus,good,quem nihil vetat,astute,benefaciens,who forbids nothing beneficial,

²²Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ,For in her is the spirit of understanding:sanctus,holy,unicus,singular,multiplex,manifold,subtilis,subtle,disertus,perceptive,mobilis,lively,incoinquinatus,chaste,certus,reliable,suavis,gracious,amans bonum,loving,acutus,good,quem nihil vetat,astute,benefaciens,who forbids nothing beneficial,

²³humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.humane, kind, steadfast, trustworthy, secure, having all virtue, watching for all things and grasping all things with a pure and most delicate understanding of spirit.

²³humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.humane, kind, steadfast, trustworthy, secure, having all virtue, watching for all things and grasping all things with a pure and most delicate understanding of spirit.

²⁴Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia:For wisdom is more active than all active things,attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.yet she reaches everywhere because of her purity.

²⁴Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia:For wisdom is more active than all active things,attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.yet she reaches everywhere because of her purity.

²⁵Vapor est enim virtutis Dei,For she is a breath of the virtue of Godet emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera,and a genuine emanation from the purity of the almighty God,et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:and therefore nothing unclean can invade her.

²⁵Vapor est enim virtutis Dei,For she is a breath of the virtue of Godet emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera,and a genuine emanation from the purity of the almighty God,et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:and therefore nothing unclean can invade her.

²⁶candor est enim lucis æternæ,Indeed, she is the brightness of eternal light,et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis,and the unspotted mirror of the majesty of God,et imago bonitatis illius.and the image of his goodness.

²⁶candor est enim lucis æternæ,Indeed, she is the brightness of eternal light,et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis,and the unspotted mirror of the majesty of God,et imago bonitatis illius.and the image of his goodness.

²⁷Et cum sit una,And though she is one,omnia potest;she can do all things;et in se permanens omnia innovat:and, unchanging in herself, she renews all things,et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert;and throughout the nations she conveys herself to holy souls,amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.establishing them as friends and prophets of God.

²⁷Et cum sit una,And though she is one,omnia potest;she can do all things;et in se permanens omnia innovat:and, unchanging in herself, she renews all things,et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert;and throughout the nations she conveys herself to holy souls,amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.establishing them as friends and prophets of God.

²⁸Neminem enim diligit Deus,For God loves nonenisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.but those who dwell with wisdom.

²⁸Neminem enim diligit Deus,For God loves nonenisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.but those who dwell with wisdom.

²⁹Est enim hæc speciosior sole,For she is more spectacular than the sun,et super omnem dispositionem stellarum:and above the array of all the stars;luci comparata,compared with the light,invenitur prior.she is found to be before it.

²⁹Est enim hæc speciosior sole,For she is more spectacular than the sun,et super omnem dispositionem stellarum:and above the array of all the stars;luci comparata,compared with the light,invenitur prior.she is found to be before it.

³⁰Illi enim succedit nox;Indeed, after her comes night,sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.but wisdom will not be overcome by malice.

³⁰Illi enim succedit nox;Indeed, after her comes night,sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.but wisdom will not be overcome by malice.