Weisheit 7

1I myself also am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.

2In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.

3And being born I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.

4I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.

5For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

6For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

7Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:

8And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

9Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold in comparison of her, is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay.

10I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.

11Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands,

12And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.

13Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.

14For she is an infinite treasure to men! which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of discipline.

15And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:

16For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.

17For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements,

18The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,

19The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,

20The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots,

21And all such things as are hid and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.

22For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,

23Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits, intelligible, pure, subtile.

24For wisdom is more active than all active things: and reacheth everywhere by reason of her purity.

25For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emanation of the glory of the almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.

26For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God’s majesty, and the image of his goodness.

27And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.

28For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

29For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

30For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.

1[Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius qui prior factus est: et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro;

2decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine: ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.

3Et ego natus accepi communem aërem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.

4In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis:

5nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.

6Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.

7Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus; et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:

8et præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.

9Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.

10Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam, quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.

11Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;

12et lætatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.

13Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.

14Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus; quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei, propter disciplinæ dona commendati.

15Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur: quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est, et sapientium emendator.

16In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.

17Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,

18initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,

19anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,

20naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum.

21Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici: omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.]

22[Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,

23humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.

24Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia: attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.

25Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera, et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:

26candor est enim lucis æternæ, et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.

27Et cum sit una, omnia potest; et in se permanens omnia innovat: et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert; amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.

28Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.

29Est enim hæc speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum: luci comparata, invenitur prior.

30Illi enim succedit nox; sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.]

1Certainly, I myself am also a mortal man, like everyone, and the offspring of this earth, which was made beforehand; and in my mother’s womb I was fashioned with care,

2within the time of ten months, made of blood, from the seed of man and the delight of sleeping together.

3And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and in similar fashion, I fell upon the earth, and the first voice I uttered, like everyone, was crying.

4I was nursed in swaddling clothes and with great care.

5For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

6Therefore, there is only one entrance for everyone into life, and the same in leaving.

7Because of this, I chose, and understanding was given to me; and I prayed, and the spirit of wisdom came to me;

8and I placed her before kingdoms and thrones, and I considered riches nothing in comparison with her.

9Neither did I compare to her a precious stone, for all gold in comparison with her is like a little sand, and silver, in view of her, will be valued as if dirt.

10I loved her above health and beauty, and I placed having her before light, for her light is unfailing.

11Yet all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable honors by her hand;

12and I rejoiced in all these, because this wisdom went before me, although I did not know that she is the mother of them all.

13This I have learned without falsehood and communicate without envy, and her integrity I do not hide.

14Indeed, she is an infinite treasure chest for men, and those who make use of it, become partakers in the friendship of God, because they are recommended by the gifts of instruction.

15Yet God has given to me to speak my mind, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given to me, because he is the leader of wisdom and the repairer of understanding.

16For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the works of science, and instruction.

17For he has given me true knowledge of these things which exist: so as to know the orderly arrangement of the world, and the powers of the elements,

18the beginning and the end and the midpoint of the seasons, the characteristics of changing things, and the divisions of time,

19the courses of the years, and the orderly arrangement of the stars,

20the natures of animals, and the rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and the reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the benefits of roots,

21and all such things as are hidden and unexpected, I have learned; for wisdom, the artisan of all things, taught me.

22For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, singular, manifold, subtle, perceptive, lively, chaste, reliable, gracious, loving, good, astute, who forbids nothing beneficial,

23humane, kind, steadfast, trustworthy, secure, having all virtue, watching for all things and grasping all things with a pure and most delicate understanding of spirit.

24For wisdom is more active than all active things, yet she reaches everywhere because of her purity.

25For she is a breath of the virtue of God and a genuine emanation from the purity of the almighty God, and therefore nothing unclean can invade her.

26Indeed, she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of the majesty of God, and the image of his goodness.

27And though she is one, she can do all things; and, unchanging in herself, she renews all things, and throughout the nations she conveys herself to holy souls, establishing them as friends and prophets of God.

28For God loves none but those who dwell with wisdom.

29For she is more spectacular than the sun, and above the array of all the stars; compared with the light, she is found to be before it.

30Indeed, after her comes night, but wisdom will not be overcome by malice.