Sapientia ædificavit sibi domum: excidit columnas septem.

Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.

See, where wisdom has built herself a house, carved out for herself those seven pillars of hers!

Immolavit victimas suas, miscuit vinum, et proposuit mensam suam.

She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table.

And now, her sacrificial victims slain, her wine mingled, her banquet spread,

Misit ancillas suas ut vocarent ad arcem et ad mœnia civitatis.

She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:

this way and that her maidens are dispatched, to city keep and city wall, bidding her guests make haste.

Si quis est parvulus, veniat ad me. Et insipientibus locuta est:

Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:

Simple hearts, she says, draw near me; and to all that lack learning this is her cry,

Venite, comedite panem meum, et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis.

Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.

Come and eat at my table, come and drink of the wine I have brewed for you;

Relinquite infantiam, et vivite, et ambulate per vias prudentiæ.

Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.

say farewell to your childishness, and learn to live; follow all of you in the path that leads to discernment.

Qui erudit derisorem, ipse injuriam sibi facit, et qui arguit impium, sibi maculam generat.

He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.

(Rash souls there are, godless souls, that will not be taught or trained; who makes the attempt, gets only injury and abuse for his thanks.

Noli arguere derisorem, ne oderit te: argue sapientem, et diliget te.

Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

With a rash fool never remonstrate; it will make him thy enemy; only the wise are grateful for a remonstrance.

Da sapienti occasionem, et addetur ei sapientia; doce justum, et festinabit accipere.

Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it.

Ever the wise profit by the opportunity to become wiser yet; ever the godly are the best learners. )

Principium sapientiæ timor Domini, et scientia sanctorum prudentia.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.

True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord; he best discerns, who has knowledge of holy things.

Per me enim multiplicabuntur dies tui, et addentur tibi anni vitæ.

For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.

Long life I bring thee, and a full tale of years;

Si sapiens fueris, tibimetipsi eris; si autem illusor, solus portabis malum.

If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.

wisdom thyself shall profit, and misfortune fall only on the rash fools that earned it.

Mulier stulta et clamosa, plenaque illecebris, et nihil omnino sciens,

A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all,

Out upon her silly clamour, the woman that is so crafty, yet knowledge has none!

sedit in foribus domus suæ, super sellam in excelso urbis loco,

Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city,

At her door she sits, her chair commanding the city’s height,

ut vocaret transeuntes per viam, et pergentes itinere suo:

To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:

and cries aloud to such as pass by on their lawful errands.

Qui est parvulus declinet ad me. Et vecordi locuta est:

He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:

Simple hearts, she says, draw near me, and to all that lack learning this is her cry,

Aquæ furtivæ dulciores sunt, et panis absconditus suavior.

Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant.

Stolen waters are sweetest, and bread is better eating when there is none to see.

Et ignoravit quod ibi sint gigantes, et in profundis inferni convivæ ejus.

And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Who shall warn them that dead men are her company, no guest of hers but is guest of the dark world beneath?