| | | English | Latin |
| 7 | 1 | I myself 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. | sum quidem et ego mortalis homo similis omnibus et ex genere terreno illius qui prior finctus est et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro |
| 7 | 2 | In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring. | decem mensuum tempore coagulatus in sanguine ex semine hominis et delectamento somni conveniente |
| 7 | 3 | And 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. | et ego natus accepi communem aerem et in similiter factam decidi terram primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans |
| 7 | 4 | I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares. | in involumentis nutritus sum et curis magnis |
| 7 | 5 | For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth. | nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium |
| 7 | 6 | For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out. | unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam et similis exitus |
| 7 | 7 | Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me: | propter hoc optavi et datus est mihi sensus et invocavi et venit in me spiritus sapientiae |
| 7 | 8 | And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. | et praeposui illam regnis et sedibus et divitias nihil esse duxi in conparatione illius |
| 7 | 9 | Neither 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. | nec conparavi illi lapidem pretiosum quoniam omne aurum in conparatione illius harena est exigua et tamquam lutum aestimabitur argentum in conspectu illius |
| 7 | 10 | I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out. | super salutem et speciem dilexi illam et proposui pro luce habere illam quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius |
| 7 | 11 | Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands, | venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius |
| 7 | 12 | And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all. | et laetatus sum in omnibus quoniam antecedebat ista sapientia et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est |
| 7 | 13 | Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not. | quam sine fictione didici et sine invidia communico et honestatem illius non abscondo |
| 7 | 14 | For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline. | infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus quod qui usi sunt participes facti sunt amicitiae Dei propter disciplinae dona commendati |
| 7 | 15 | And 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: | mihi autem det Deus dicere ex sententia et praesumere digna horum quae dantur quoniam ipse et sapientiae dux est et sapientium emendator |
| 7 | 16 | For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works. | in manu enim illius et nos et sermones nostri et omnis sapientia et operum scientiae disciplina |
| 7 | 17 | For 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, | ipse enim mihi dedit horum quae sunt scientiam veram ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum et virtutes elementorum |
| 7 | 18 | The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons, | initium et consummationem et medietatem temporum et meditationem omnium morum mutationes et divisiones temporum |
| 7 | 19 | The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars, | anni cursus et stellarum dispositiones |
| 7 | 20 | The 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, | naturas animalium et iras bestiarum vim ventorum et cogitationes hominum differentias arborum et virtutes radicum |
| 7 | 21 | And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me. | et quaecumque sunt absconsa et inprovisa didici omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia |
| 7 | 22 | For 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, | est enim in illa spiritus intellectus sanctus unicus multiplex subtilis mobilis dissertus incoinquinatus certus suavis amans bonum acutus qui nihil vetat benefacere |
| 7 | 23 | Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, subtile: | humanus stabilis certus securus omnem habens virtutem omnia prospiciens et qui capiat omnes spiritus intellegibiles mundos subtiles |
| 7 | 24 | For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth everywhere, by reason of her purity. | omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia adtingit autem ubique et capit propter suam munditiam |
| 7 | 25 | For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her. | vapor est enim virtutis Dei et emanatio quaedam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera et ideo nihil inquinatum in illa incurrit |
| 7 | 26 | For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness. | candor est enim lucis aeternae et speculum sine macula Dei maiestatis et imago bonitatis illius |
| 7 | 27 | And 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. | et cum sit una omnia potest et permanens in se omnia innovat et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert amicos Dei et prophetas constituit |
| 7 | 28 | For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. | neminem enim diligit Deus nisi eum qui cum sapientia inhabitat |
| 7 | 29 | For 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. | est enim haec speciosior sole et super omnem stellarum dispositionem luci conparata invenitur prior |
| 7 | 30 | For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom. | illi enim succedit nox sapientiam autem non vincit malitia |