Wisdom 8

NEW JERUSALEM	VULGATA
1 Strongly she reaches from one end of the world to the other and she governs the whole world for itsgood.	1 Attingit ergo a fine usque ad finem fortiter, et disponit omnia suaviter.
2 Wisdom I loved and searched for from my youth; I resolved to have her as my bride, I fel in love withher beauty.	2 Hanc amavi, et exquisivi a juventute mea, et quæsivi sponsam mihi eam assumere, et amator factus sum formæ illius.
3 She enhances her noble birth by sharing God's life, for the Master of Al has always loved her.	3 Generositatem illius glorificat, contubernium habens Dei ; sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam.
4 Indeed, she shares the secrets of God's knowledge, and she chooses what he wil do.	4 Doctrix enim est disciplinæ Dei, et electrix operum illius.
5 If in this life wealth is a desirable possession, what is more wealthy than Wisdom whose work iseverywhere?	5 Et si divitiæ appetuntur in vita, quid sapientia locupletius quæ operatur omnia ?
6 Or if it be the intel ect that is at work, who, more than she, designs whatever exists?	6 Si autem sensus operatur, quis horum quæ sunt magis quam illa est artifex ?
7 Or if it be uprightness you love, why, virtues are the fruit of her labours, since it is she who teachestemperance and prudence, justice and fortitude; nothing in life is more useful for human beings.	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.
8 Or if you are eager for wide experience, she knows the past, she forecasts the future; she knows how toturn maxims, and solve riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders, and of the unfolding of the agesand the times.	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.
9 I therefore determined to take her to share my life, knowing that she would be my counsel or inprosperity and comfort me in cares and sorrow.	9 Proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum, sciens quoniam mecum communicabit de bonis, et erit allocutio cogitationis et tædii mei.
10 'Thanks to her, I shal be admired by the masses and honoured, though young, by the elders.	10 Habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas, et honorem apud seniores juvenis ;
11 I shall be reckoned shrewd as a judge, and the great wil be amazed at me.	11 et acutus inveniar in judicio, et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero, et facies principum mirabuntur me :
12 They wil wait on my silences, and pay attention when I speak; if I speak at some length, they wil laytheir hand on their lips.	12 tacentem me sustinebunt, et loquentem me respicient, et sermocinante me plura, manus ori suo imponent.
13 By means of her, immortality wil be mine, I shal leave an everlasting memory to my successors.	13 Præterea habebo per hanc immortalitatem, et memoriam æternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam.
14 I shall govern peoples, and nations wil be subject to me;	14 Disponam populos, et nationes mihi erunt subditæ :
15 at the sound of my name fearsome despots will be afraid; I shal show myself kind to the people andvaliant in battle.	15 timebunt me audientes reges horrendi. In multitudine videbor bonus, et in bello fortis.
16 'When I go home I shal take my ease with her, for nothing is bitter in her company, when life is sharedwith her there is no pain, nothing but pleasure and joy.'	16 Intrans in domum meam, conquiescam cum illa : non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius, nec tædium convictus illius, sed lætitiam et gaudium.
17 Having meditated on al this, and having come to the conclusion that immortality resides in kinship withWisdom,	17 Hæc cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo, quoniam immortalitas est in cognatione sapientiæ,
18 noble contentment in her friendship, inexhaustible riches in her activities, understanding in cultivatingher society, and renown in conversing with her, I went al ways, seeking how to get her.	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.
19 I was a boy of happy disposition, I had received a good soul as my lot,	19 Puer autem eram ingeniosus, et sortitus sum animam bonam.
20 or rather, being good, I had entered an undefiled body;	20 Et cum essem magis bonus, veni ad corpus incoinquinatum.
21 but, realising that I could never possess Wisdom unless God gave her to me, -a sign of intel igence initself, to know in whose gift she lay -- I prayed to the Lord and entreated him, and with all my heart I said:	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 :