Wisdom of Solomon · Clementine Vulgate
Wisdom of Solomon 7 Clementine Vulgate
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;
1 I myself am also mortal, like everyone else, and am a descendant of one formed first and born of the earth.
2 decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine: ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.
2 I molded into flesh in the time of ten months in my mother’s womb, being compacted in blood from the seed of man and pleasure of marriage.
3 Et ego natus accepi communem aërem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.
3 I also, when I was born, drew in the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth, uttering, like all, for my first voice, the same cry.
4 In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis:
4 I was nursed with care in swaddling clothes.
5 nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.
5 For no king had a different beginning,
6 Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.
6 but all men have one entrance into life, and a common departure.
7 Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus; et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:
7 For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given to me. I asked, and a spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 et præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones. I considered riches nothing in comparison to her.
9 Nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.
9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold in her presence is a little sand, and silver will be considered as clay before her.
10 Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam, quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.
10 I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.
11 Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius;
11 All good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches are in her hands.
12 et lætatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.
12 And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leads them; although I didn’t know that she was their mother.
13 Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.
13 As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging. I don’t hide her riches.
14 Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus; quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei, propter disciplinæ dona commendati.
14 For she is a treasure for men that doesn’t fail, and those who use it obtain friendship with God, commended by the gifts which they present through discipline.
15 Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et præsumere digna horum quæ mihi dantur: quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est, et sapientium emendator.
15 But may God grant that I may speak his judgment, and to conceive thoughts worthy of what has been given me; because he is one who guides even wisdom and who corrects the wise.
16 In manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia, et disciplina.
16 For both we and our words are in his hand, with all understanding and skill in various crafts.
17 Ipse enim dedit mihi horum quæ sunt scientiam veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,
17 For he himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, to know the structure of the universe and the operation of the elements;
18 initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,
18 the beginning, end, and middle of times; the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons;
19 anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,
19 the circuits of years and the positions of stars;
20 naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum.
20 the natures of living creatures and the raging of wild beasts; the violence of winds and the thoughts of men; the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots.
21 Et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa didici: omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.]
21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,
22 [Est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,
22 for wisdom, that is the architect of all things, taught me. For there is in her a spirit that is quick to understand, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, freely moving, clear in utterance, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving what is good, keen, unhindered,
23 humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus, intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.
23 beneficent, loving toward man, steadfast, sure, free from care, all-powerful, all-surveying, and penetrating through all spirits that are quick to understand, pure, most subtle.
24 Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia: attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.
24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion. Yes, she pervades and penetrates all things by reason of her purity.
25 Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera, et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit:
25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty. Therefore nothing defiled can find entrance into her.
26 candor est enim lucis æternæ, et speculum sine macula Dei majestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.
26 For she is a reflection of everlasting light, an unspotted mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.
27 Et cum sit una, omnia potest; et in se permanens omnia innovat: et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert; amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.
27 Although she is one, she has power to do all things. Remaining in herself, she renews all things. From generation to generation passing into holy souls, she makes friends of God and prophets.
28 Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat.
28 For God loves nothing as much as one who dwells with wisdom.
29 Est enim hæc speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum: luci comparata, invenitur prior.
29 For she is fairer than the sun, and above all the constellations of the stars. She is better than light.
30 Illi enim succedit nox; sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.]
30 For daylight yields to night, but evil does not prevail against wisdom.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
In Holy Scripture, it is true, the Spirit of wisdom is called "manifold" because it contains many things in it; but what it contains it also is, and it being one is all these things.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… the Light of the World." Wisdom and Power, "Christ, the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God." The Effulgence, the Impress, the Image, the Seal; "Who being the Effulgence of His glory and the Impress of His Essence," and "the Image of His Goodness," and "Him hath God the Father sealed." Lord, King, He That Is, The Almighty.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… they address it may give ear; and when the discourse has a happy issue, they ought to render thanks to Him from whom they know such blessings come, so that all the praise may be His "in whose hand are both we and our words." Chapter 31 — Apology for the Length of the Work
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Whether you are to understand His sun as being not that which is visible to the fleshly eyes, but that wisdom of which it is said, "She is the brightness of the everlasting light;" of which it is also said, "The Sun of righteousness has arisen upon me;" and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)