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

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

(Wisdom more avails than strength; for a man of prudence, the warrior is no match.)

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

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

A word, then, for kings’ ears to hear, kings’ hearts to heed; a message for you, rulers, wherever you be!

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

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

Listen well, all you that have multitudes at your command, foreign hordes to do your bidding.

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

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

Power is none but comes to you from the Lord, nor any royalty but from One who is above all. He it is that will call you to account for your doings, with a scrutiny that reads your inmost thoughts;

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.

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

you that held his commission and were false to it, justice neglected, the law set aside, his divine will transgressed.

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

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

Swift and terrible shall be his coming; strictly his doom falls where heads rise high.

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

Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia; potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur.

For the meanest, there may be pardon; for greatness, greater torment is reserved.

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

What, should he cringe before high rank, stand in awe of a name, he, the Lord of a universe, that made great and little alike, that cares alike for all?

But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.

Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio.

Who most has power, him the sharpest pains await.

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

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

Do you, then, royal sirs (for my warning touches none so nearly), learn wisdom’s lesson, and save yourselves from ruin.

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

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

He that would find soul’s health, holy must be and hallowed precepts observe; master these he must, if he would make good his defence.

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

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

Cherish these warnings of mine, and greedily devour them for your instruction.

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

The bright beacon of wisdom, that never burns dim, how readily seen by eyes that long for it, how open to their search!

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

Præoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat.

Nay, she is beforehand with these her suitors, ready to make herself known to them;

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

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

no toilsome quest is his, that is up betimes to greet her; she is there, waiting at his doors.

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

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

Why, to entertain the very thought of her is maturity of the mind; one night’s vigil, and all thy cares are over.

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.

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

She goes her rounds, to find men worthy of her favours; in the open street unveils that smiling face of hers, comes deliberately to meet them.

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

Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinæ concupiscentia.

The very first step towards wisdom is the desire for discipline,

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

and how should a man care for discipline without loving it, or love it without heeding its laws, or heed its laws without winning immortality,

And incorruption bringeth near to God.

incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo.

or win immortality without drawing near to God?

Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom.

Concupiscentia itaque sapientiæ deducit ad regnum perpetuum.

A royal road it is, then, this desire for wisdom,

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

and you, that have nations under your sway, as you value throne and sceptre, must hold wisdom in honour; how else shall your reign be eternal?

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

diligite lumen sapientiæ, omnes qui præestis populis.

(A welcome light hers should be to the world’s princes.)

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 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.

What wisdom is, whence came its birth, I will now make known to you. Not for me to withhold the secret; from first to last I will tell the story of her origin, bring to light all that may be known of her, no word of the truth passed by.

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

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

Withhold it? Nay, the pale miser that grudges his store was never friend of mine; no such character befits the wise.

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

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

Wide let wisdom be spread, for the more health of mankind; what better security for a people, than prudence on the throne?

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

Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.

Learn, then, who will, the lesson of discernment; at my charges, and to his profit.