The .vij. Chapter.
Wisdome ought to be preferred aboue all thynges.
[unspec A] 1 I My selfe also am a mortall man, lyke as all other, & am come of the earthy genera∣tion of hym that was first made,
2 And in my mothers wombe was fashoned to be fleshe in the tyme of tenne monethes, beyng brought together in blood, through the seede of man, and the pleasure that came with sleepe.
3 And when I was borne I receaued lyke ayre as other men, and fell vpon the earth which is of like nature, crying and weeping at the first as all other do.
4 I was wrapped in swadlyng clothes, and brought vp with cares.
5 For there is no kyng that hath had any other begynnyng of birth.
6 All men then haue one entraunce vnto lyfe, and one goyng out in lyke maner.
[unspec B] 7 Wherfore I desired, and vnderstan∣dyng was geuen me: I called, and the spirite of wisdome came into me.
8 I set more by her then by kingdomes and royal seates, and counted riches no∣thyng in comparison of her.
9 As for pretious stone, I compared it not vnto her: for all golde is but a litle grauell vnto her, and siluer shalbe coun∣ted but clay before her syght.
10 I loued her aboue “ 1.1 welfare & beautie, and purposed to take her for my lyght: for her lyght can not be quenched.
11 All good thynges together came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her handes.
12 And I was glad in all thynges, be∣cause wisdome went before them: and I knewe not that she was the mother of them.
13 And I my selfe learned vnfaignedly, and make other men partakers of her without enuie, and hyde her riches from no man.
14 For she is an infinite treasure vnto men: which who so vse, become parta∣kers of the loue [and friendshyp] of God, and are accepted vnto him for the giftes of “ 1.2 wisdome.
15 God hath graunted me to speake what my mynde conceaueth, and to thynke as is meete for the thynges that are geuen me: For it is he that leadeth vnto wisdome, and teacheth to vse wis∣dome a ryght.
16 For in his hande are both we and our