Sapientia 8

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 juventute mea, et quæsivi sponsam mihi eam assumere, et amator factus sum formæ 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 illius glorificat, contubernium habens 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 disciplinæ Dei, et electrix operum illius.	4 For she is instructress in the understanding of God, the selector of his works.
5 Et si divitiæ appetuntur in vita, quid sapientia locupletius quæ 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 quæ 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 justitiam quis diligit, labores hujus magnas habent virtutes : sobrietatem enim et prudentiam docet, et justitiam, et virtutem, 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 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.	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 mecum communicabit de bonis, et erit allocutio cogitationis et tædii mei.	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 juvenis ;	10 For her sake I should have glory among the masses, and esteem from the elders, though I be but a youth.
11 et acutus inveniar in judicio, et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero, et facies principum mirabuntur me :	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 Præterea habebo per hanc immortalitatem, et memoriam æternam 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 subditæ :	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 tædium convictus illius, sed lætitiam 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 Hæc cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo, quoniam immortalitas est in cognatione sapientiæ,	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 operibus manuum illius honestas sine defectione, et in certamine loquelæ illius sapientia, et præclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius : circuibam quærens, 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 Et cum essem magis bonus, veni ad 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 ; et hoc ipsum erat sapientiæ, scire cujus esset hoc donum : adii Dominum, et deprecatus sum illum, et dixi ex totis præcordiis meis :	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: