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adtingit enim a fine usque ad finem fortiter et disponit omnia suaviter
She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.
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| 2 |
hanc amavi et exquisivi a iuventute mea et quaesivi sponsam mihi adsumere et amator factus sum formae illius
Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.
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| 3 |
generositatem glorificat contubernium habens Dei sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam
She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and the Lord of all things hath loved her.
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doctrix est enim disciplinae Dei et electrix operum illius
For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God and is the chooser of his works.
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| 5 |
et si divitiae appetuntur in vita quid sapientiae locupletius quae omnia operatur
And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?
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| 6 |
si autem sensus operatur quis horum quae sunt magis quam illa est artifex
And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?
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| 7 |
et si iustitiam quis diligit labores huius magnas habent virtutes sobrietatem enim et sapientiam docet et iustitiam et virtutem quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus
And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
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| 8 |
et si multitudinem scientiae desiderat quis scit praeterita et de futuris aestimat scit versutias sermonum et dissolutiones argumentorum signa et monstra scit antequam fiant et eventus temporum et saeculorum
And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
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| 9 |
proposui ergo hanc adducere mihi ad convivendum sciens quoniam communicabit mecum de bonis et erit adlocutio cogitationis et taedii mei
I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.
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| 10 |
habebo propter hanc claritatem ad turbas et honorem apud seniores iuvenis
For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:
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| 11 |
acutus inveniar in iudicio et in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero et facies principum mirabuntur me
And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
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| 12 |
tacentem me sustinebunt et loquentem me respicient et sermocinante plura manus ori suo inponent
They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on their mouth.
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| 13 |
propterea habebo per hanc inmortalitatem et memoriam aeternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam
Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.
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| 14 |
disponam populos et nationes mihi erunt subiectae
I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.
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| 15 |
timebunt me audientes reges horrendi in multitudine videbor bonus et in bello fortis
Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.
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| 16 |
intrans in domum meam conquiescam cum illa non enim habet amaritudinem conversatio illius nec taedium convictus ipsius sed laetitiam et gaudium
When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.
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| 17 |
haec cogitans apud me et commemorans in corde meo quoniam inmortalitas est in cogitatione sapientiae
Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,
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| 18 |
et in amicitia illius delectatio bona et in operibus manuum illius honestas sine defectione et in certamine loquellae illius sapientia et praeclaritas in communicatione sermonum ipsius circuibam quaerens ut mihi illam adsumerem
And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.
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| 19 |
puer autem eram ingeniosus et sortitus sum animam bonam
And I was a witty child, and had received a good soul.
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| 20 |
et cum essem magis bonus veni ad corpus incoinquinatum
And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
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| 21 |
et ut scivi quoniam aliter non possum esse continens nisi Deus det et hoc ipsum erat sapientiae scire cuius esset hoc donum adii Dominum et deprecatus sum illum et dixi ex totis praecordiis meis
And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was, I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:
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