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[1]I my selfe also am a mortall man, lyke as all other, & am come of the earthy generation 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.
[7]Wherfore I desired, and vnderstandyng 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 nothyng 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 counted but clay before her syght.
[10]I loued her aboue 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, because 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 partakers of the loue [and friendshyp] of God, and are accepted vnto him for the giftes of 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 wisdome a ryght.
[16]For in his hande are both we and our wordes, yea all our wisdome, and knowledge of [his] workes.
[17]For he hath geuen me the true science of the thinges that are, so that I know howe the worlde was made, and the powers of the elementes:
[18]The begynnyng, endyng, and myddest of the tymes, howe the tymes alter, howe one goeth after another, & howe they are fulfylled,
[19]The course of the yere, the ordinaunces of the starres,
[20]The natures of lyuyng thynges, the furiousnesse of beastes, the power of the wyndes, the imaginations of men, the diuersities of young plants, the vertues of rootes:
[21]And all such thynges as are either secrete or manifest, them haue I learned.
[22]For wisdome which is the worker of all thynges hath taught me: for in her is the spirite of vnderstandyng, which is holy, one only, manifolde, subtile, quicke mouyng, cleare, vndefiled, plaine, sweete, louyng the thyng that is good, sharpe, which can not be letted, doyng good,
[23]Kynde to man, stedfast, sure, free from care, hauyng all vertues, circumspect in all thynges, and passyng through all vnderstanding, cleane, & subtile spirites.
[24]For wisdome is nimbler then all nimble thynges, she goeth through and attayneth to all thynges, because of her cleannesse.
[25]For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glorie of the almightie [God:] therfore can no defiled thyng come vnto her.
[26]For she is the bryghtnesse of the euerlastyng lyght, the vndefiled mirrour of the maiestie of God, and the image of his goodnesse.
[27]And beyng [but] one, she can do all thinges: and remaynyng in her selfe she renueth all, and in all ages of tymes entryng into holy soules, she maketh Gods friendes, and prophetes:
[28]For God loueth none, if he dwell not with wisdome.
[29]For she is more beautifull then the sunne, and geueth more lyght then the starres, and the day is not to be compared vnto her.
[30]For vpon the day commeth nyght: but wickednesse can not ouercome wisdome.
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