Sapienza 8

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Attingit ergo a fine usque ad finem fortiter et disponit omnia suaviter.	1 Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.
2 Hanc amavi et exquisivi a iuventute mea et quaesivi sponsam mihi eam assumere et amator factus sum formae illius.	2 Her I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought to take her for my bride and was enamored of her beauty.
3 Generositatem suam glorificat contuberniumhabens Dei, sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam.	3 She adds to nobility the splendor of companionship with God; even the LORD of all loved her.
4 Doctrix enim est disciplinae Dei et electrix operum illius.	4 For she is instructress in the understanding of God, the selector of his works.
5 Et, si divitiae sunt desiderabilis possessio in vita, quid sapientia locupletius, quae operatur omnia?	5 And if riches be a desirable possession in life, what is more rich than Wisdom, who produces all things?
6 Si autem sensus operatur, quis horum, quae sunt, magis quam illa est artifex?	6 And if prudence renders service, who in the world is a better craftsman than she?
7 Et, si iustitiam quis diligit, labores huius sunt virtutes: sobrietatem enim et prudentiam docet, iustitiam et fortitudinem, quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus.	7 Or if one loves justice, the fruits of her works are virtues; For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful for men than these.
8 Et, si multam peritiam desiderat quis, scit praeterita et futura conicit, novit versutias sermonum et solutiones aenigmatum, signa et monstra scit, antequam fiant, et eventus momentorum et temporum.	8 Or again, if one yearns for copious learning, she knows the things of old, and infers those yet to come. She understands the turns of phrases and the solutions of riddles; signs and wonders she knows in advance and the outcome of times and ages.
9 Proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum, sciens quoniam erit mihi consiliaria bonorum et consolatio sollicitudinum et taedii.	9 So I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well, and my comfort in care and grief.
10 Habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas et honorem apud seniores iuvenis;	10 For her sake I should have glory among the masses, and esteem from the elders, though I be but a youth.
11 acutus inveniar in iudicio et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero.	11 I should become keen in judgment, and should be a marvel before rulers.
12 Tacentem me sustinebunt et loquentem me respicient et, sermocinante me plura, manus ori suo imponent.	12 They would abide my silence and attend my utterance; and as I spoke on further, they would place their hands upon their mouths.
13 Habebo per hanc immortalitatem et memoriam aeternam his, qui post me futuri sunt, relinquam.	13 For her sake I should have immortality and leave to those after me an everlasting memory.
14 Disponam populos, et nationes mihi erunt subditae;	14 I should govern peoples, and nations would be my subjects-
15 timebunt me audientes reges horrendi, in multitudine videbor bonus et in bello fortis.	15 terrible princes, hearing of me, would be afraid; in the assembly I should appear noble, and in war courageous.
16 Intrans in domum meam, conquiescam cum illa; non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius nec taedium convictus illius, sed laetitiam et gaudium.	16 Within my dwelling, I should take my repose beside her; For association with her involves no bitterness and living with her no grief, but rather joy and gladness.
17 Haec cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo quoniam immortalitas est in cognatione sapientiae,	17 Thinking thus within myself, and reflecting in my heart That there is immortality in kinship with Wisdom,
18 et in amicitia illius delectatio bona, et in laboribus manuum illius divitiae sine defectione, et in certamine loquelae illius sapientia, et praeclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius, circuibam quaerens, ut mihi illam assumerem.	18 and good pleasure in her friendship, and unfailing riches in the works of her hands, And that in frequenting her society there is prudence, and fair renown in sharing her discourses, I went about seeking to take her for my own.
19 Puer autem eram ingeniosus et sortitus sum animam bonam;	19 Now, I was a well-favored child, and I came by a noble nature;
20 quin potius, cum essem bonus, veni in corpus incoinquinatum.	20 or rather, being noble, I attained an unsullied body.
21 Et, ut scivi quoniam aliter non possem esse continens, nisi Deus det, C et hoc ipsum erat sapientiae scire, cuius esset hoc donum C adii Dominum et deprecatus sum illum et dixi ex toto corde meo:	21 And knowing that I could not otherwise possess her except God gave it-- and this, too, was prudence, to know whose is the gift-- I went to the LORD and besought him, and said with all my heart: