by Septuagint
[4] Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;
[5] φρικτῶς καὶ ταχέως ἐπιστήσεται ὑμῖν, ὅτι κρίσις ἀπότομος ἐν τοῖς ὑπερέχουσιν γίνεται.
[5] Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places.
[6] ὁ γὰρ ἐλάχιστος συγγνωστός ἐστιν ἐλέους, δυνατοὶ δὲ δυνατῶς ἐτασθήσονται·
[6] For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.
[7] οὐ γὰρ ὑποστελεῖται πρόσωπον ὁ πάντων δεσπότης οὐδὲ ἐντραπήσεται μέγεθος, ὅτι μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν ὁμοίως τε προνοεῖ περὶ πάντων,
[7] For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man’s person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man’s greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike.
[8] τοῖς δὲ κραταιοῖς ἰσχυρὰ ἐφίσταται ἔρευνα.
[8] But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.
[9] πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὖν, ὦ τύραννοι, οἱ λόγοι μου, ἵνα μάθητε σοφίαν καὶ μὴ παραπέσητε·
[9] Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not fall away.
[10] οἱ γὰρ φυλάξαντες ὁσίως τὰ ὅσια ὁσιωθήσονται, καὶ οἱ διδαχθέντες αὐτὰ εὑρήσουσιν ἀπολογίαν.
[10] For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer.
[11] ἐπιθυμήσατε οὖν τῶν λόγων μου, ποθήσατε καὶ παιδευθήσεσθε.
[11] Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed.
[12] Λαμπρὰ καὶ ἀμάραντός ἐστιν ἡ σοφία καὶ εὐχερῶς θεωρεῖται ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγαπώντων αὐτὴν καὶ εὑρίσκεται ὑπὸ τῶν ζητούντων αὐτήν,
[12] Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.
[13] φθάνει τοὺς ἐπιθυμοῦντας προγνωσθῆναι.
[13] She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.
[14] ὁ ὀρθρίσας πρὸς αὐτὴν οὐ κοπιάσει· πάρεδρον γὰρ εὑρήσει τῶν πυλῶν αὐτοῦ.
[14] Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.
[15] τὸ γὰρ ἐνθυμηθῆναι περὶ αὐτῆς φρονήσεως τελειότης, καὶ ὁ ἀγρυπνήσας δι’ αὐτὴν ταχέως ἀμέριμνος ἔσται·
[15] To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.
[16] ὅτι τοὺς ἀξίους αὐτῆς αὐτὴ περιέρχεται ζητοῦσα καὶ ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις φαντάζεται αὐτοῖς εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐν πάσῃ ἐπινοίᾳ ὑπαντᾷ αὐτοῖς.
[16] For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought.
[17] ἀρχὴ γὰρ αὐτῆς ἡ ἀληθεστάτη παιδείας ἐπιθυμία, φροντὶς δὲ παιδείας ἀγάπη,
[17] For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;
[18] ἀγάπη δὲ τήρησις νόμων αὐτῆς, προσοχὴ δὲ νόμων βεβαίωσις ἀφθαρσίας,
[18] And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption;
[19] ἀφθαρσία δὲ ἐγγὺς εἶναι ποιεῖ θεοῦ·
[19] And incorruption maketh us near unto God:
[20] ἐπιθυμία ἄρα σοφίας ἀνάγει ἐπὶ βασιλείαν.
[20] Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.
[21] εἰ οὖν ἥδεσθε ἐπὶ θρόνοις καὶ σκήπτροις, τύραννοι λαῶν, τιμήσατε σοφίαν, ἵνα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα βασιλεύσητε.
[21] If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.
[22] τί δέ ἐστιν σοφία καὶ πῶς ἐγένετο, ἀπαγγελῶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψω ὑμῖν μυστήρια, ἀλλὰ ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς γενέσεως ἐξιχνιάσω καὶ θήσω εἰς τὸ ἐμφανὲς τὴν γνῶσιν αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ παροδεύσω τὴν ἀλήθειαν.
[22] As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.
[23] οὔτε μὴν φθόνῳ τετηκότι συνοδεύσω, ὅτι οὗτος οὐ κοινωνήσει σοφίᾳ.
[23] Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.
[24] πλῆθος δὲ σοφῶν σωτηρία κόσμου, καὶ βασιλεὺς φρόνιμος εὐστάθεια δήμου.
[24] But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.
[25] ὥστε παιδεύεσθε τοῖς ῥήμασίν μου, καὶ ὠφεληθήσεσθε.
[25] Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.
CHAPTER 7
[1] Εἰμὶ μὲν κἀγὼ θνητὸς ἄνθρωπος ἴσος ἅπασιν καὶ γηγενοῦς ἀπόγονος πρωτοπλάστου· καὶ ἐν κοιλίᾳ μητρὸς ἐγλύφην σὰρξ
[1] I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,
[2] δεκαμηνιαίῳ χρόνῳ παγεὶς ἐν αἵματι ἐκ σπέρματος ἀνδρὸς καὶ ἡδονῆς ὕπνῳ συνελθούσης.
[2] And in my mother’s womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.
[3] καὶ ἐγὼ δὲ γενόμενος ἔσπασα τὸν κοινὸν ἀέρα καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ὁμοιοπαθῆ κατέπεσον γῆν πρώτην φωνὴν τὴν ὁμοίαν πᾶσιν ἴσα κλαίων·
[3] And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
[4] ἐν σπαργάνοις ἀνετράφην καὶ φροντίσιν.
[4] I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.
[5] οὐδεὶς γὰρ βασιλέων ἑτέραν ἔσχεν γενέσεως ἀρχήν,
[5] For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.
[6] μία δὲ πάντων εἴσοδος εἰς τὸν βίον ἔξοδός τε ἴση.
[6] For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
[7] διὰ τοῦτο εὐξάμην, καὶ φρόνησις ἐδόθη μοι· ἐπεκαλεσάμην, καὶ ἦλθέν μοι πνεῦμα σοφίας.
[7] Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
[8] προέκρινα αὐτὴν σκήπτρων καὶ θρόνων καὶ πλοῦτον ο
ὐδὲν ἡγησάμην ἐν συγκρίσει αὐτῆς·
[8] I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
[9] οὐδὲ ὡμοίωσα αὐτῇ λίθον ἀτίμητον, ὅτι ὁ πᾶς χρυσὸς ἐν ὄψει αὐτῆς ψάμμος ὀλίγη, καὶ ὡς πηλὸς λογισθήσεται ἄργυρος ἐναντίον αὐτῆς·
[9] Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.
[10] ὑπὲρ ὑγίειαν καὶ εὐμορφίαν ἠγάπησα αὐτὴν καὶ προειλόμην αὐτὴν ἀντὶ φωτὸς ἔχειν, ὅτι ἀκοίμητον τὸ ἐκ ταύτης φέγγος.
[10] I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.
[11] ἦλθεν δέ μοι τὰ ἀγαθὰ ὁμοῦ πάντα μετ’ αὐτῆς καὶ ἀναρίθμητος πλοῦτος ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῆς·
[11] All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.
[12] εὐφράνθην δὲ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἡγεῖται σοφία, ἠγνόουν δὲ αὐτὴν γενέτιν εἶναι τούτων.
[12] And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.
[13] ἀδόλως τε ἔμαθον ἀφθόνως τε μεταδίδωμι, τὸν πλοῦτον αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκρύπτομαι·
[13] I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.
[14] ἀνεκλιπὴς γὰρ θησαυρός ἐστιν ἀνθρώποις, ὃν οἱ κτησάμενοι πρὸς θεὸν ἐστείλαντο φιλίαν διὰ τὰς ἐκ παιδείας δωρεὰς συσταθέντες.
[14] For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.
[15] Ἐμοὶ δὲ δῴη ὁ θεὸς εἰπεῖν κατὰ γνώμην καὶ ἐνθυμηθῆναι ἀξίως τῶν δεδομένων, ὅτι αὐτὸς καὶ τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγός ἐστιν καὶ τῶν σοφῶν διορθωτής.
[15] God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.
[16] ἐν γὰρ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ λόγοι ἡμῶν πᾶσά τε φρόνησις καὶ ἐργατειῶν ἐπιστήμη.
[16] For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.
[17] αὐτὸς γάρ μοι ἔδωκεν τῶν ὄντων γνῶσιν ἀψευδῆ εἰδέναι σύστασιν κόσμου καὶ ἐνέργειαν στοιχείων,
[17] For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:
[18] ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος καὶ μεσότητα χρόνων, τροπῶν ἀλλαγὰς καὶ μεταβολὰς καιρῶν,
[18] The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:
[19] ἐνιαυτοῦ κύκλους καὶ ἄστρων θέσεις,
[19] The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:
[20] φύσεις ζῴων καὶ θυμοὺς θηρίων, πνευμάτων βίας καὶ διαλογισμοὺς ἀνθρώπων, διαφορὰς φυτῶν καὶ δυνάμεις ῥιζῶν,
[20] The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:
[21] ὅσα τέ ἐστιν κρυπτὰ καὶ ἐμφανῆ ἔγνων· ἡ γὰρ πάντων τεχνῖτις ἐδίδαξέν με σοφία.
[21] And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.
[22] Ἔστιν γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ πνεῦμα νοερόν, ἅγιον, μονογενές, πολυμερές, λεπτόν, εὐκίνητον, τρανόν, ἀμόλυντον, σαφές, ἀπήμαντον, φιλάγαθον, ὀξύ,
[22] For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,
[23] ἀκώλυτον, εὐεργετικόν, φιλάνθρωπον, βέβαιον, ἀσφαλές, ἀμέριμνον, παντοδύναμον, πανεπίσκοπον καὶ διὰ πάντων χωροῦν πνευμάτων νοερῶν καθαρῶν λεπτοτάτων.
[23] Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
[24] πάσης γὰρ κινήσεως κινητικώτερον σοφία, διήκει δὲ καὶ χωρεῖ διὰ πάντων διὰ τὴν καθαρότητα·
[24] For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.
[25] ἀτμὶς γάρ ἐστιν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ δυνάμεως καὶ ἀπόρροια τῆς τοῦ παντοκράτορος δόξης εἰλικρινής· διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲν μεμιαμμένον εἰς αὐτὴν παρεμπίπτει.
[25] For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.
[26] ἀπαύγασμα γάρ ἐστιν φωτὸς ἀιδίου καὶ ἔσοπτρον ἀκηλίδωτον τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐνεργείας καὶ εἰκὼν τῆς ἀγαθότητος αὐτοῦ.
[26] For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.
[27] μία δὲ οὖσα πάντα δύναται καὶ μένουσα ἐν αὑτῇ τὰ πάντα καινίζει καὶ κατὰ γενεὰς εἰς ψυχὰς ὁσίας μεταβαίνουσα φίλους θεοῦ καὶ προφήτας κατασκευάζει·
[27] And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.
[28] οὐθὲν γὰρ ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεὸς εἰ μὴ τὸν σοφίᾳ συνοικοῦντα.
[28] For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
[29] ἔστιν γὰρ αὕτη εὐπρεπεστέρα ἡλίου καὶ ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν ἄστρων θέσιν. φωτὶ συγκρινομένη εὑρίσκεται προτέρα·
[29] For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.
[30] τοῦτο μὲν γὰρ διαδέχεται νύξ, σοφίας δὲ οὐ κατισχύει κακία.
[30] For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.
CHAPTER 8
[1] διατείνει δὲ ἀπὸ πέρατος ἐπὶ πέρας εὐρώστως καὶ διοικεῖ τὰ πάντα χρηστῶς.
[1] Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.
[2] Ταύτην ἐφίλησα καὶ ἐξεζήτησα ἐκ νεότητός μου καὶ ἐζήτησα νύμφην ἀγαγέσθαι ἐμαυτῷ καὶ ἐραστὴς ἐγενόμην τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς.
[2] I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to
make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.
[3] εὐγένειαν δοξάζει συμβίωσιν θεοῦ ἔχουσα, καὶ ὁ πάντων δεσπότης ἠγάπησεν αὐτήν·
[3] In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.
[4] μύστις γάρ ἐστιν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιστήμης καὶ αἱρετὶς τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.
[4] For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.
[5] εἰ δὲ πλοῦτός ἐστιν ἐπιθυμητὸν κτῆμα ἐν βίῳ, τί σοφίας πλουσιώτερον τῆς τὰ πάντα ἐργαζομένης;
[5] If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?
[6] εἰ δὲ φρόνησις ἐργάζεται, τίς αὐτῆς τῶν ὄντων μᾶλλόν ἐστιν τεχνῖτις;
[6] And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?
[7] καὶ εἰ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαπᾷ τις, οἱ πόνοι ταύτης εἰσὶν ἀρεταί· σωφροσύνην γὰρ καὶ φρόνησιν ἐκδιδάσκει, δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἀνδρείαν, ὧν χρησιμώτερον οὐδέν ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ ἀνθρώποις.
[7] And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.
[8] εἰ δὲ καὶ πολυπειρίαν ποθεῖ τις, οἶδεν τὰ ἀρχαῖα καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα εἰκάζει, ἐπίσταται στροφὰς λόγων καὶ λύσεις αἰνιγμάτων, σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα προγινώσκει καὶ ἐκβάσεις καιρῶν καὶ χρόνων.
[8] If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.
