The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.

The .viij. Chapter.

The effectes of wisdome.

[unspec A] 1 “ 1.1WIsdome reacheth from one ende to ano∣ther mightily, and * 1.2 louyngly doth she or∣der all thynges.

2 I haue loued her, and * 1.3 laboured for her, euen from my youth vp: I dyd my dili∣gence to mary my selfe with her, such loue had I vnto her beautie.

3 That she hath the companie of God, it commendeth her nobilitie: yea the Lorde of all thynges hym selfe loueth her.

4 For she is the scoolemaistresse of the nurture of God, and the choser out of his workes.

5 If * 1.4 a man woulde desire riches in this lyfe, what is richer then wisdome that worketh all thynges?

6 For yf prudencie worke: what is it a∣mong all thynges that worketh better?

7 And yf a man loue ryghteousnesse, her labours are but vertues: For why? she teacheth sobernesse and prudence, “ 1.5 righ∣teousnesse and strength, which are such thinges as men can haue nothyng more profitable in their lyfe.

8 If a man desire much “ 1.6 knowledge, [unspec B] she can tell the thynges that are past, and discerne thynges for to come: she knoweth the subtilties of wordes, and can expounde darke sentences: she for∣seeth signes and wonders or euer they come to passe, and the “ 1.7 endes of all tymes and ages.

9 Therfore I purposed after this maner: I wyll take her into my com∣panie, that she may liue with me, know∣yng for certaintie she shall geue me good counsayle, and speake comfortably vnto me in my carefulnesse and griefe.

10 For her sake shall I be well [& honestly] taken among the commons, and with honour among the elders though I be young.

11 I shalbe founde to be of sharpe iudge∣ment, so that I shalbe marueylous in

the sight of great men: * 1.8 and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.

12 When I holde my tongue, they shall byde my leasure, and when I speake, they shall geue good eare vnto me, and if I talke much, they shall lay their handes vpon their mouth.

13 Moreouer, by the meanes of her I shall obtayne immortalitie, and leaue behynde me an euerlastyng memoriall among them that come after me.

14 I “ 1.9 shall set the people in order, and the [unspec C] nations shalbe subdued vnto me.

15 Horrible tirauntes shalbe afraide when they do but heare of me, among the multitude I shalbe counted good, and mightie in battayle.

16 When I come home I shall fynde rest with her: for her companie hath no bitternesse, and her felowshyp hath no tediousnesse, but mirth and ioy.

17 Nowe whē I considered these thinges by my selfe, and pondered them in my heart, howe that to be ioyned vnto wis∣dome is immortalitie,

18 And great pleasure to haue her friend∣shyp, and that in the workes of her handes are infinite riches, and that who so * 1.10 kepeth companie with her shalbe wise, and that he which talketh with her, shall come to honour: I went about sekyng howe to get her vnto me.

19 For I was a lad of ripe witte, and had a good “ 1.11 vnderstandyng.

20 “ 1.12But when I grewe to more vnder∣standyng, I came to an vndefiled body.

21 Neuerthelesse when I perceaued that I coulde not enioy it except God gaue it [me] and that was a poynt of wisdome also to knowe whose gyft it was, I stepped vnto the Lorde and be∣sought hym, and with my whole heart I sayde after this maner:

Notes

• “ 1.1

  Or, ••he.
• * 1.2

  Or, pro∣fitably.
• * 1.3

  Or, sought.
• * 1.4

  Or, ••f riches be a possession that a man woulde desire
• “ 1.5

  Or, iustice and manhood.
• “ 1.6

  Or, much experience.
• “ 1.7

  Or, successe of tymes.
• * 1.8

  This part of the eleuenth verse is only in the olde translation.
• “ 1.9

  Or, I shall gouerne the people.
• * 1.10

  Or exerci∣seth talke with her.
• “ 1.11

  Or, spirite with me.
• “ 1.12

  Or, yea rather beyng good.