Liber Sapientiae

Melior est sapientia quam vires, et vir prudens quam fortis.

Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a strong man.

Meliore es sapientia quam vis, et viro prudente quam forti.

Audite ergo, reges, et intelligite; discite, judices finium terræ.

Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are judges of the ends of the earth.

Audi ergo, reges, et intellege; disce, iudices finio de terra.

Præbete aures, vos qui continetis multitudines, et placetis vobis in turbis nationum.

Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:

Praebe aures, vos qui contine multitudines, et place ad vos in turbas de nationes.

Quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis, et virtus ab Altissimo: qui interrogabit opera vestra, et cogitationes scrutabitur.

For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts:

Quia da es ab Domino potestate ad vos, et virtute ab Altissimo: qui interroga operes vestro, et cogitationes scrutor.

Quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte judicastis, nec custodistis legem justitiæ, neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis.

Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God.

Quia cum es ministros de regno de illo, non recte iudica, nec custodi lege de iustitia, neque secundo voluntate de Deo ambula.

Horrende et cito apparebit vobis, quoniam judicium durissimum his qui præsunt fiet.

Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.

Horre et cito appare ad vos, quia iudicio dure ad hoc qui praesume i fi.

Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia; potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur.

For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented.

Exiguo nam misericordia concede; potente autem potenter pate tormentos.

Non enim subtrahet personam cujusquam Deus, nec verebitur magnitudinem ejus cujusquam, quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et æqualiter cura est illi de omnibus.

For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.

Non nam Deo subtrahe persona ullo, nec vereor magnitudine de illo ullo, quia ipso fac pusillo et magna, et aequaliter cura es ad illo de omni.

Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio.

But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.

Ad forti autem forti cruciatione insta.

Ad vos ergo, reges, sunt hi sermones mei: ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis.

To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it.

Ad vos ergo, reges, es hoc sermones meo: ut disce sapientia, et non excide.

Qui enim custodierint justa juste, justificabuntur; et qui didicerint ista, invenient quid respondeant.

For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.

Qui nam custodi iusto iuste, iustifica; et qui disce inveni, isto quid responde.

Concupiscite ergo sermones meos; diligite illos, et habebitis disciplinam.

Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction.

Concupisce ergo sermones meo; dilige illos, et habe disciplina.

Clara est, et quæ numquam marcescit, sapientia: et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam, et invenitur ab his qui quærunt illam.

Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.

Clara es, et que nunquam marcesce, sapientia: et facile vide se ab hoc qui dilige illa, et inveni ab hoc qui quaere illa.

Præoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat.

She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them.

Praeoccupa qui concupisce se, ut ad illos priore ostende se.

Qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam non laborabit; assidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet.

He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door.

Qui de luce vigila ad illa non labora; asside nam illa foris suo inveni.

Cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus, et qui vigilaverit propter illam cito securus erit.

To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.

Cogita ergo de illa sensu es consumma, et qui vigila propter illa cito securo es.

Quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quærens, et in viis ostendit se hilariter, et in omni providentia occurrit illis.

For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence.

Quia digna se ipso circui quaere, et in vias ostende se hilariter, et in omni providentia occurre ad illos.

Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinæ concupiscentia.

For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.

Initio nam de illo verissimo es de disciplina concupiscentia.

Cura ergo disciplinæ dilectio est, et dilectio custodia legum illius est; custoditio autem legum consummatio incorruptionis est;

And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption:

Cura ergo de disciplina dilectione es, et dilectione custodia de leges de illo es; custoditione autem de leges consummatione de incorruptione es;

incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo.

And incorruption bringeth near to God.

Incorruptione autem fac es proximo ad Deo.

Concupiscentia itaque sapientiæ deducit ad regnum perpetuum.

Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom.

Concupiscentia itaque de sapientia deduce ad regno perpetua.

Si ergo delectamini sedibus et sceptris, o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis:

If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.

Si ergo delecta ad sedes et ad sceptras, o reges de populo, dilige sapientia, ut in perpetua regna:

diligite lumen sapientiæ, omnes qui præestis populis.

Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.

Omni qui praesta, ad populos dilige lumine de sapientia.

Quid est autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facta sit, referam, et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei: sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo, et ponam in lucem scientiam illius, et non præteribo veritatem.

Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth:

Quid es autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facto es, refer, et non absconde ab vos sacramentos de Deo: sed ab initio de nativitate investiga, et pone in luce scientia de illo, et non praeteri veritate.

Neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo, quoniam talis homo non erit particeps sapientiæ.

Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.

Neque cum invidia tabesce itinere habe, quia tale homine non es participe de sapientia.

Multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum, et rex sapiens stabilimentum populi est.

Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.

Multitudine autem sapiens sanitate es orbe de terras, et rege sape stabilimento de populo es.

Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.

Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be profitable to you.

Ergo accipe disciplina per sermones meo, et prosum ad vos.