Sapientia 6

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Melior est sapientia quam vires, et vir prudens quam fortis.	1 Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
2 Audite ergo, reges, et intelligite ; discite, judices finium terræ.	2 hear this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject nations!
3 Præbete aures, vos qui continetis multitudines, et placetis vobis in turbis nationum.	3 For sovereignty is given to you by the Lord and power by the Most High, who will himself probe youracts and scrutinise your intentions.
4 Quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis, et virtus ab Altissimo : qui interrogabit opera vestra, et cogitationes scrutabitur.	4 If therefore, as servants of his kingdom, you have not ruled justly nor observed the law, nor fol owed thewil of God,
5 Quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte judicastis, nec custodistis legem justitiæ, neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis.	5 he wil fal on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly placed a ruthless judgement falls;
6 Horrende et cito apparebit vobis, quoniam judicium durissimum his qui præsunt fiet.	6 the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty wil be mightily tormented.
7 Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia ; potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur.	7 For the Lord of al does not cower before anyone, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since hehimself has made small and great and provides for al alike;
8 Non enim subtrahet personam cujusquam Deus, nec verebitur magnitudinem ejus cujusquam, quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et æqualiter cura est illi de omnibus.	8 but a searching trial awaits those who wield power.
9 Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio.	9 So, monarchs, my words are meant for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not fal into error;
10 Ad vos ergo, reges, sunt hi sermones mei : ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis.	10 for those who in holiness observe holy things will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction fromthem, wil find their defence in them.
11 Qui enim custodierint justa juste, justificabuntur ; et qui didicerint ista, invenient quid respondeant.	11 Set your heart, therefore, on what I have to say, listen with a wil , and you wil be instructed.
12 Concupiscite ergo sermones meos ; diligite illos, et habebitis disciplinam.	12 Wisdom is bril iant, she never fades. By those who love her, she is readily seen, by those who seekher, she is readily found.
13 Clara est, et quæ numquam marcescit, sapientia : et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam, et invenitur ab his qui quærunt illam.	13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.
14 Præoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat.	14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but wil find her sitting at the door.
15 Qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam non laborabit ; assidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet.	15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon befree from care.
16 Cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus, et qui vigilaverit propter illam cito securus erit.	16 For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.
17 Quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quærens, et in viis ostendit se hilariter, et in omni providentia occurrit illis.	17 For Wisdom begins with the sincere desire for instruction, care for instruction means loving her,
18 Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinæ concupiscentia.	18 loving her means keeping her laws, attention to her laws guarantees incorruptibility,
19 Cura ergo disciplinæ dilectio est, et dilectio custodia legum illius est ; custoditio autem legum consummatio incorruptionis est ;	19 and incorruptibility brings us near to God;
20 incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo.	20 the desire for Wisdom thus leads to sovereignty.
21 Concupiscentia itaque sapientiæ deducit ad regnum perpetuum.	21 If then thrones and sceptres delight you, monarchs of the nations, honour Wisdom, so that you mayreign for ever.
22 Si ergo delectamini sedibus et sceptris, o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis :	22 What Wisdom is and how she was born, I shal now explain; I shal hide no mysteries from you, butshall fol ow her steps from the outset of her origin, setting out what we know of her in ful light, without departingfrom the truth.
23 diligite lumen sapientiæ, omnes qui præestis populis.	23 Blighting envy is no companion for me, for envy has nothing in common with Wisdom.
24 Quid est autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facta sit, referam, et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei : sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo, et ponam in lucem scientiam illius, et non præteribo veritatem.	24 In the greatest number of the wise lies the world's salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of apeople.
25 Neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo, quoniam talis homo non erit particeps sapientiæ.	25 Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.
26 Multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum, et rex sapiens stabilimentum populi est.
27 Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.