Wisdom of Solomon 8
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
1She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.
1[Attingit ergo a fine usque ad finem fortiter, et disponit omnia suaviter.]
2Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.
2[Hanc amavi, et exquisivi a juventute mea, et quæsivi sponsam mihi eam assumere, et amator factus sum formæ illius.
3She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea and the Lord of all things hath loved her.
3Generositatem illius glorificat, contubernium habens Dei; sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam.
4For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of his works.
4Doctrix enim est disciplinæ Dei, et electrix operum illius.
5And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?
5Et si divitiæ appetuntur in vita, quid sapientia locupletius quæ operatur omnia?
6And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?
6Si autem sensus operatur, quis horum quæ sunt magis quam illa est artifex?
7And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
7Et 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.
8And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
8Et 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.
9I purposed therefore to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.
9Proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum, sciens quoniam mecum communicabit de bonis, et erit allocutio cogitationis et tædii mei.
10For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:
10Habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas, et honorem apud seniores juvenis;
11And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
11et acutus inveniar in judicio, et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero, et facies principum mirabuntur me:
12They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak, and if I talk much they shall lay their hands on their mouths.
12tacentem me sustinebunt, et loquentem me respicient, et sermocinante me plura, manus ori suo imponent.
13Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.
13Præterea habebo per hanc immortalitatem, et memoriam æternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam.
14I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.
14Disponam populos, et nationes mihi erunt subditæ:
15Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.
15timebunt me audientes reges horrendi. In multitudine videbor bonus, et in bello fortis.
16When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.
16Intrans in domum meam, conquiescam cum illa: non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius, nec tædium convictus illius, sed lætitiam et gaudium.
17Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,
17Hæc cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo, quoniam immortalitas est in cognatione sapientiæ,
18And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.
18et 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.
19And I was a witty child and had received a good soul.
19Puer autem eram ingeniosus, et sortitus sum animam bonam.
20And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
20Et cum essem magis bonus, veni ad corpus incoinquinatum.
21And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was: I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:
21Et 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:]
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