If a man fears the Lord, he will live an upright life. If a man holds fast to inno-cence, he will find wisdom ready to his embrace,

He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,

Qui timet Deum faciet bona, et qui continens est justitiæ apprehendet illam:

welcoming him as a mother welcomes the son who cherishes her, greeting him like a maiden bride.

And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

et obviabit illi quasi mater honorificata, et quasi mulier a virginitate suscipiet illum.

Long life and good discernment are the bread this mother will provide for him, truth the refreshing draught she will give him to drink. She will take firm hold of him, so that he never wavers,

With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved.

Cibabit illum pane vitæ et intellectus, et aqua sapientiæ salutaris potabit illum: et firmabitur in illo, et non flectetur:

restrain him, so that he is never disgraced. She will raise him to high repute among his neighbours;

And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.

et continebit illum, et non confundetur: et exaltabit illum apud proximos suos,

she will move him to speak before the assembled people, filling him with the spirit of wisdom and discernment, clothing him in magnificent array.

And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.

et in medio ecclesiæ aperiet os ejus, et adimplebit illum spiritu sapientiæ et intellectus, et stola gloriæ vestiet illum.

Joy and triumph she has in store for him, and will enrich him with a name that shall never be forgotten.

She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

Jucunditatem et exsultationem thesaurizabit super illum, et nomine æterno hæreditabit illum.

Not for the fools her embrace, only apt pupils encounter her; how should the fools catch sight of her, that is so far removed from proud and treacherous ways?

But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.

Homines stulti non apprehendent illam, et homines sensati obviabunt illi. Homines stulti non videbunt eam: longe enim abest a superbia et dolo.

Nay, she is beyond the deceiver’s ken; true hearts alone are her company, and these shall profit by it till they are fit for God’s scrutiny.

Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.

Viri mendaces non erunt illius memores: et viri veraces invenientur in illa, et successum habebunt usque ad inspectionem Dei.

Praise is but praise deformed when it is uttered by the lips of a sinner;

Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:

Non est speciosa laus in ore peccatoris,

wisdom comes from God only, and on wisdom the praise of God needs must wait. Praise on the lips of one who trusts God is rich in meaning; the Ruler of all inspires it.

For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.

quoniam a Deo profecta est sapientia. Sapientiæ enim Dei astabit laus, et in ore fideli abundabit, et Dominator dabit eam illi.

This wisdom lackest thou? Do not blame God for the want of it; learn to shun the deeds God hates.

Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.

Non dixeris: Per Deum abest: quæ enim odit ne feceris.

Do not complain that it was he led thee into false paths; what need has God, thinkest thou, of rebels?

Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.

Non dicas: Ille me implanavit: non enim necessarii sunt ei homines impii.

No foul misdeed there is but God hates it; there is no loving it and fearing him.

The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.

Omne execramentum erroris odit Dominus, et non erit amabile timentibus eum.

When men first came to be, it was God made them, and, making them, left them to the arbitrament of their own wills;

God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.

Deus ab initio constituit hominem, et reliquit illum in manu consilii sui:

yet giving them commandments to be their rule.

He added his commandments and precepts.

adjecit mandata et præcepta sua.

Those commandments if thou wilt observe, they in their turn shall preserve thee, and give thee warrant of his favour.

If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.

Si volueris mandata servare, conservabunt te, et in perpetuum fidem placitam facere.

It is as though he offered thee fire and water, bidding thee take which thou wouldst;

He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.

Apposuit tibi aquam et ignem, ad quod volueris porrige manum tuam.

life and death, blessing and curse, man finds set before him, and the gift given thee shall be the choice thou makest;

Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:

Ante hominem vita et mors, bonum et malum: quod placuerit ei dabitur illi:

so wise God is, so constraining his power, so incessant the watch he keeps over mankind.

For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.

quoniam multa sapientia Dei, et fortis in potentia, videns omnes sine intermissione.

The Lord’s eye is watching over the men who fear him, no act of ours passes unobserved;

The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.

Oculi Domini ad timentes eum, et ipse agnoscit omnem operam hominis.

upon none does he enjoin disobedience, none has leave from him to commit sin.

He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin:

Nemini mandavit impie agere, et nemini dedit spatium peccandi:

A brood of disloyal sons and worthless, how should this be the Lord’s desire?

For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.

non enim concupiscit multitudinem filiorum infidelium et inutilium.