Liber Sapientiae

Deus patrum meorum, et Domine misericordiæ, qui fecisti omnia verbo tuo,

God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

Deo de patres meo, et Domino de misericordia, qui fac omni verbo tuo,

et sapientia tua constituisti hominem, ut dominaretur creaturæ quæ a te facta est,

And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,

Et sapientia tuo constitue homine, ut de creatura que ab te facto es dominor,

ut disponat orbem terrarum in æquitate et justitia, et in directione cordis judicium judicet:

That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:

Ut dispone orbe de terras in aequitate et iustitia, et in directione de corde iudicio iudica:

da mihi sedium tuarum assistricem sapientiam, et noli me reprobare a pueris tuis:

Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children:

Da ad me de sedes tuo assistrixice sapientia, et ne vol me reproba ab pueros tuo:

quoniam servus tuus sum ego, et filius ancillæ tuæ; homo infirmus, et exigui temporis, et minor ad intellectum judicii et legum.

For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws.

Quia servo tuo es me, et filio de ancilla tuo; homine infirmiori, et exiguo de tempore, et minimo ad intellectu de iudicio et de leges.

Nam etsi quis erit consummatus inter filios hominum, si ab illo abfuerit sapientia tua, in nihilum computabitur.

For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

Nam etsi qui es consumma inter filios de homines, si ab illo sapientia tuo abes, in nihilo computa.

Tu elegisti me regem populo tuo, et judicem filiorum tuorum et filiarum:

Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

Te elige me rege ad populo tuo, et iudice de filios tuo et de filias:

et dixisti me ædificare templum in monte sancto tuo, et in civitate habitationis tuæ altare: similitudinem tabernaculi sancti tui quod præparasti ab initio.

And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:

Et dic me aedifica templo in monte sancto tuo, et in civitate de habitatione tuo altari: similitudine de tabernaculo sancto tuo quod praepara ab initio.

Et tecum sapientia tua, quæ novit opera tua, quæ et affuit tunc cum orbem terrarum faceres, et sciebat quid esset placitum oculis tuis, et quid directum in præceptis tuis.

And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.

Et tecum sapientia tuo, que nosce operes tuo, que et ad-fer tunc cum orbe de terras fac, et sci quid es place oculos tuo, et quid disriga in praeceptos tuo.

Mitte illam de cælis sanctis tuis, et a sede magnitudinis tuæ, ut mecum sit et mecum laboret, ut sciam quid acceptum sit apud te:

Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:

Mitte illa de caelos sancto tuo, et ab sede de magnitudine tuo, ut meco es et mecum labora, ut sci quid accipe es apud te:

scit enim illa omnia, et intelligit, et deducet me in operibus meis sobrie, et custodiet me in sua potentia.

For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.

Sci nam illa omni, et intellege, et deduce me in operes meo sobrie, et custodi me in suo potentia.

Et erunt accepta opera mea, et disponam populum tuum juste, et ero dignus sedium patris mei.

So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

Et es accipe operes meo, et dispone populo tuo iuste, et es digna de sedes de patre meo.

Quis enim hominum poterit scire consilium Dei? aut quis poterit cogitare quid velit Deus?

For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is?

Qui nam de homines pote scire consilio de Deo? Aut qui pote cogita Deo vol quid?

Cogitationes enim mortalium timidæ, et incertæ providentiæ nostræ;

For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.

Cogitationes nam mortali timido, et incerto providentias nostro;

corpus enim quod corrumpitur aggravat animam, et terrena inhabitatio deprimit sensum multa cogitantem.

For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

Corpore nam quod corrumpe aggrava anima, et terreno inhabitatione deprime sensu multo cogita.

Et difficile æstimamus quæ in terra sunt, et quæ in prospectu sunt invenimus cum labore: quæ autem in cælis sunt, quis investigabit?

And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?

Et difficile aestima que in terra es, et que in prospectu es inveni cum labore: que autem in caelos es, qui investiga?

Sensum autem tuum, quis sciet, nisi tu dederis sapientiam, et miseris spiritum sanctum tuum de altissimis,

And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy holy Spirit from above:

Sensu autem tuo, qui sci, nisi te da sapientia, et mitte spiritu sancto tuo de altissimo,

et sic correctæ sint semitæ eorum qui sunt in terris, et quæ tibi placent didicerint homines?

And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?

Et sic corrige es semetas de illos qui es in terras, et homines disce que ad te place?

Nam per sapientiam sanati sunt quicumque placuerunt tibi, Domine, a principio.

For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.

Nam per sapientia sana es omni place ad te, Domino, ab principio.