,this e,book was produced by ,david     
,widger  from etext #aeha prepared by   
,dennis ,mc,carthy1 ,atlanta1 ,georgia  
and ,tad ,book1 student1 ,pontifical    
,north ,american ,college1 ,rome4       
,,the ,,holy ,,bible                    
,translated from the ,latin ,vulgate    
,diligently ,compared with the ,hebrew1 
,greek1  and ,other ,editions in ,divers
 ,languages      ,,the ,,old ,,testament
  ,first ,published by the ,english     
,college at ,douay  ,a4,d4 #afji  #afaj 
and    ,,the ,,new ,,testament  ,first  
,published by the ,english ,college at  
,rheims  ,a4,d4 #aehb      ,with        
,annotations      ,the ,whole ,revised  
and ,diligently ,compared with  the     
,latin ,vulgate by ,bishop ,richard     
,challoner  ,a4,d4 #agdi-ageb           
,,the ,,book ,,of ,,wisdom    ,this     
,book is so called1 because it treats of
 the excellence of ,,wisdom1  the means 
to obtain it1 and the happy fruits it   
produces4 ,it is written  in the person 
of ,solomon1 and contains his           

sentiments4 ,but it is  uncertain who   
was the writer4 ,it abounds with        
instructions and  exhortations to kings 
and all magistrates to minister justice 
in the  commonwealth1 teaching all kinds
 of virtues under the general names of  
justice and wisdom4 ,it contains also   
many prophecies of ,christ's coming1    
passion1 resurrection1 and other        
,christian mysteries4 ,the whole may be 
divided into three parts4 ,in the first 
six chapters1 the author  admonishes all
 superiors to love and exercise justice 
and wisdom4 ,in the  next three1 he     
teacheth that wisdom proceedeth only    
from ,god1 and is  procured by prayer   
and a good life4 ,in the other ten      
chapters1 he  sheweth the excellent     
effects and utility of wisdom and       
justice4      ,wisdom ,chapter #a    ,an
 exhortation to seek ,god sincerely1 who
 cannot be deceived1 and  desireth not  
our death4    #a3a4 ,love justice1 you  
that are the judges of the earth4 ,think
 of the  ,lord in goodness1 and seek him

 in simplicity of heart3    #a3b4 ,for  
he is found by them that tempt him not3 
and he sheweth himself  to them that    
have faith in him4    #a3c4 ,for        
perverse thoughts separate from ,god3   
and his power1 when it is  tried1       
reproveth the unwise3    #a3d4 ,for     
wisdom will not enter into a malicious  
soul1 nor dwell in a  body subject to   
sins4    #a3e4 ,for the ,holy ,spirit of
 discipline will flee from the          
deceitful1 and  will withdraw himself   
from thoughts that are without          
understanding1 and  he shall not abide  
when iniquity cometh in4    #a3f4 ,for  
the spirit of wisdom is benevolent1 and 
will not acquit the  evil speaker from  
his lips3 for ,god is witness of his    
reins1 and he is a  true searcher of his
 heart1 and a hearer of his tongue4     
#a3g4 ,for the ,spirit of the ,lord hath
 filled the whole world3 and that  which
 containeth all things1 hath knowledge  
of the voice4    #a3h4 ,therefore he    
that speaketh unjust things1 cannot be  

hid1 neither  shall the chastising      
judgment pass him by4    #a3i4 ,for     
inquisition shall be made into the      
thoughts of the ungodly1 and  the       
hearing of his words shall come to ,god1
 to the chastising of his  iniquities4  
#a3aj4 ,for the ear of jealousy heareth 
all things1 and the tumult of  murmuring
 shall not be hid4    #a3aa4 ,keep      
yourselves1 therefore1 from murmuring1  
which profiteth  nothing1 and refrain   
your tongue from detraction1 for an     
obscure speech  shall not go for nought3
 and the mouth that belieth1 killeth the
 soul4    #a3ab4 ,seek not death in the 
error of your life1 neither procure ye  
destruction by the works of your hands4 
#a3ac4 ,for ,god made not death1 neither
 hath he pleasure in the  destruction of
 the living4    #a3ad4 ,for he created  
all things that they might be3 and he   
made the  nations of the earth for      
health3 and there is no poison of       
destruction  in them1 nor kingdom of    
hell upon the earth4    #a3ae4 ,for     

justice is perpetual and immortal4      
#a3af4 ,but the wicked with works and   
words have called it to them3 and       
esteeming it a friend1 have fallen away 
and have made a covenant with  it3      
because they are worthy to be of the    
part thereof4    ,wisdom ,chapter #b    
,the vain reasonings of the wicked3     
their persecuting the just1  especially 
the ,son of ,god4    #b3a4 ,for they    
have said1 reasoning with themselves1   
but not right3 ,the  time of our life is
 short and tedious1 and in the end of a 
man there is  no remedy1 and no man hath
 been known to have returned from hell3 
#b3b4 ,for we are born of nothing1 and  
after this we shall be as if we had  not
 been3 for the breath in our nostrils is
 smoke3 and speech a spark to  move our 
heart1    #b3c4 ,which being put out1   
our body shall be ashes1 and our spirit 
shall  be poured abroad as soft air1 and
 our life shall pass away as the trace  
of a cloud1 and shall be dispersed as a 
mist1 which is driven away by  the beams

 of the sun1 and overpowered with the   
heat thereof3    #b3d4 ,and our name in 
time shall be forgotten1 and no man     
shall have any  remembrance of our      
works4    #b3e4 ,for our time is as the 
passing of a shadow1 and there is no    
going  back of our end3 for it is fast  
sealed1 and no man returneth3    #b3f4  
,come1 therefore1 and let us enjoy the  
good things that are present1  and let  
us speedily use the creatures as in     
youth4    #b3g4 ,let us fill ourselves  
with costly wine1 and ointments3 and let
 not  the flower of the time pass by us4
    #b3h4 ,let us crown ourselves with  
roses1 before they be withered3 let no  
meadow escape our riot4    #b3i4 ,let   
none of us go without his part in       
luxury3 let us every where  leave tokens
 of joy3 for this is our portion1 and   
this our lot4    #b3aj4 ,let us oppress 
the poor just man1 and not spare the    
widow1 nor  honour the ancient grey     
hairs of the aged4    #b3aa4 ,but let   
our strength be the law of justice3 for 

that which is  feeble is found to be    
nothing worth4    #b3ab4 ,let us1       
therefore1 lie in wait for the just1    
because he is not for  our turn1 and he 
is contrary to our doings1 and          
upbraideth us with  transgressions of   
the law1 and divulgeth against us the   
sins of our way  of life4    #b3ac4 ,he 
boasteth that he hath the knowledge of  
,god1 and calleth himself  the son of   
,god4    #b3ad4 ,he is become a censurer
 of our thoughts4    #b3ae4 ,he is      
grievous unto us1 even to behold3 for   
his life is not like  other men's1 and  
his ways are very different4    #b3af4  
,we are esteemed by him as triflers1 and
 he abstaineth from our  ways as from   
filthiness1 and he preferreth the latter
 end of the just1  and glorieth that he 
hath ,god for his father4    #b3ag4 ,let
 us see then if his words be true1 and  
let us prove what shall  happen to him1 
and we shall know what his end shall be4
    #b3ah4 ,for if he be the true son of
 ,god1 he will defend him1 and will     

deliver him from the hands of his       
enemies4    #b3ai4 ,let us examine him  
by outrages and tortures1 that we may   
know his  meekness1 and try his         
patience4    #b3bj4 ,let us condemn him 
to a most shameful death3 for there     
shall be  respect had unto him by his   
words4    #b3ba4 ,these things they     
thought1 and were deceived3 for their   
own malice  blinded them4    #b3bb4 ,and
 they knew not the secrets of ,god1 nor 
hoped for the wages of  justice1 nor    
esteemed the honour of holy souls4      
#b3bc4 ,for ,god created man            
incorruptible1 and to the image of his  
own  likeness he made him4    #b3bd4    
,but by the envy of the devil1 death    
came into the world3    #b3be4 ,and they
 follow him that are of his side4       
,wisdom ,chapter #c    ,the happiness of
 the just3 and the unhappiness of the   
wicked4    #c3a4 ,but the souls of the  
just are in the hand of ,god1 and the   
torment  of death shall not touch them4 
#c3b4 ,in the sight of the unwise they  

seemed to die3 and their departure  was 
taken for misery3    #c3c4 ,and their   
going away from us1 for utter           
destruction3 but they are  in peace4    
#c3d4 ,and though in the sight of men   
they suffered torments1 their hope  is  
full of immortality4    #c3e4 ,afflicted
 in few things1 in many they shall be   
well rewarded3  because ,god hath tried 
them1 and found them worthy of himself4 
#c3f4 ,as gold in the furnace1 he hath  
proved them1 and as a victim of a       
holocaust1 he hath received them1 and in
 time there shall be respect had  to    
them4    #c3g4 ,the just shall shine1   
and shall run to and fro like sparks    
among  the reeds4    #c3h4 ,they shall  
judge nations1 and rule over people1 and
 their ,lord  shall reign for ever4     
#c3i4 ,they that trust in him shall     
understand the truth3 and they that  are
 faithful in love1 shall rest in him3   
for grace and peace are to his  elect4  
#c3aj4 ,but the wicked shall be punished
 according to their own devices3  who   

have neglected the just1 and have       
revolted from the ,lord4    #c3aa4 ,for 
he that rejecteth wisdom1 and           
discipline1 is unhappy3 and  their hope 
is vain1 and their labours without      
fruit1 and their works  unprofitable4   
#c3ab4 ,their wives are foolish1 and    
their children wicked4    #c3ac4 ,their 
offspring is cursed1 for happy is the   
barren3 and the  undefiled1 that hath   
not known bed in sin1 she shall have    
fruit in the  visitation of holy souls4 
#c3ad4 ,and the eunuch1 that hath not   
wrought iniquity with his hands1 nor    
thought wicked things against ,god for  
the precious gift of faith shall  be    
given to him1 and a most acceptable lot 
in the temple of ,god4    #c3ae4 ,for   
the fruit of good labours is glorious1  
and the root of wisdom  never faileth4  
#c3af4 ,but the children of adulterers  
shall not come to perfection1 and  the  
seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted
 out4    #c3ag4 ,and if they live long1 
they shall be nothing regarded1 and     

their  last old age shall be without    
honour4    #c3ah4 ,and if they die      
quickly1 they shall have no hope1 nor   
speech of  comfort in the day of trial4 
#c3ai4 ,for dreadful are the ends of a  
wicked race4    ,wisdom ,chapter #d     
,the difference between the chaste and  
the adulterous generations3 and  between
 the death of the just and the wicked4  
#d3a4 ,how beautiful is the chaste      
generation with glory3 for the memory   
thereof is immortal3 because it is known
 both with ,god and with men4    #d3b4  
,when it is present1 they imitate it3   
and they desire it1 when it  hath       
withdrawn itself1 and it triumpheth     
crowned for ever1 winning the  reward of
 undefiled conflicts4    #d3c4 ,but the 
multiplied brood of the wicked shall not
 thrive1 and  bastard slips shall not   
take deep root1 nor any fast foundation4
    #d3d4 ,and if they flourish in      
branches for a time1 yet standing not   
fast1  they shall be shaken with the    
wind1 and through the force of winds    

they  shall be rooted out4    #d3e4 ,for
 the branches not being perfect1 shall  
be broken1 and their  fruits shall be   
unprofitable1 and sour to eat1 and fit  
for nothing4    #d3f4 ,for the children 
that are born of unlawful beds1 are     
witnesses of  wickedness against their  
parents in their trial4    #d3g4 ,but   
the just man1 if he be prevented with   
death1 shall be in rest4    #d3h4 ,for  
venerable old age is not that of long   
time1 nor counted by the  number of     
years3 but the understanding of a man is
 grey hairs4    #d3i4 ,and a spotless   
life is old age4    #d3aj4 ,he pleased  
,god1 and was beloved1 and living among 
sinners1 he was  translated4    #d3aa4  
,he was taken away1 lest wickedness     
should alter his understanding1  or     
deceit beguile his soul4    #d3ab4 ,for 
the bewitching of vanity obscureth good 
things1 and the  wandering of           
concupiscence overturneth the innocent  
mind4    #d3ac4 ,being made perfect in a
 short space1 he fulfilled a long time4 

#d3ad4 ,for his soul pleased ,god3      
therefore he hastened to bring him out  
of the midst of iniquities3 but the     
people see this1 and understand not1    
nor lay up such things in their hearts3 
#d3ae4 ,that the grace of ,god1 and his 
mercy is with his saints1 and that  he  
hath respect to his chosen4    #d3af4   
,but the just that is dead1 condemneth  
the wicked that are living1  and youth  
soon ended1 the long life of the unjust4
    #d3ag4 ,for they shall see the end  
of the wise man1 and it shall not       
understand what ,god hath designed for  
him1 and why the ,lord hath set him  in 
safety4    #d3ah4 ,they shall see him1  
and shall despise him3 but the ,lord    
shall  laugh them to scorn4    #d3ai4   
,and they shall fall after this without 
honour1 and be a reproach  among the    
dead for ever3 for he shall burst them  
puffed up and  speechless1 and shall    
shake them from the foundations1 and    
they shall be  utterly laid waste3 they 
shall be in sorrow1 and their memory    

shall  perish4    #d3bj4 ,they shall    
come with fear at the thought of their  
sins1 and their  iniquities shall stand 
against them to convict them4    ,wisdom
 ,chapter #e    ,the fruitless          
repentance of the wicked in another     
world3 the reward of  the just4    #e3a4
 ,then shall the just stand with great  
constancy against those that  have      
afflicted them1 and taken away their    
labours4    #e3b4 ,these seeing it1     
shall be troubled with terrible fear1   
and shall be  amazed at the suddenness  
of their unexpected salvation1    #e3c4 
,saying within themselves1 repenting1   
and groaning for anguish of  spirit3    
,these are they1 whom we had sometime in
 derision1 and for a  parable of        
reproach4    #e3d4 ,we fools esteemed   
their life madness1 and their end       
without honour4      #e3e4 ,behold1 how 
they are numbered among the children of 
,god1 and their  lot is among the       
saints4    #e3f4 ,therefore we have     
erred from the way of truth1 and the    

light of  justice hath not shined unto  
us1 and the sun of understanding hath   
not  risen upon us4    #e3g4 ,we wearied
 ourselves in the way of iniquity and   
destruction1 and  have walked through   
hard ways1 but the way of the ,lord we  
have not  known4    #e3h4 ,what hath    
pride profited us8 or what advantage    
hath the boasting of  riches brought us8
    #e3i4 ,all those things are passed  
away like a shadow1 and like a post     
that runneth on1    #e3aj4 ,and as a    
ship1 that passeth through the waves3   
whereof when it is  gone by1 the trace  
cannot be found nor the path of its keel
 in the  waters3    #e3aa4 ,or as when a
 bird flieth through the air1 of the    
passage of which  no mark can be found1 
but only the sound of the wings beating 
the light  air1 and parting it by the   
force of her flight3 she moved her      
wings1 and  hath flown through1 and     
there is no mark found afterwards of her
 way3    #e3ab4 ,or as when an arrow is 
shot at a mark1 the divided air quickly 

cometh together again1 so that the      
passage thereof is not known3    #e3ac4 
,so we also being born1 forthwith ceased
 to be3 and have been able  to shew no  
mark of virtue3 but are consumed in our 
wickedness4    #e3ad4 ,such things as   
these the sinners said in hell3         
#e3ae4 ,for the hope of the wicked is as
 dust1 which is blown away with  the    
wind1 and as a thin froth which is      
dispersed by the storm3 and a  smoke    
that is scattered abroad by the wind3   
and as the remembrance of a  guest of   
one day that passeth by4    #e3af4 ,but 
the just shall live for evermore3 and   
their reward is with the  ,lord1 and the
 care of them with the most ,high4      
#e3ag4 ,therefore shall they receive a  
kingdom of glory1 and a crown of  beauty
 at the hand of the ,lord3 for with his 
right hand he will cover  them1 and with
 his holy arm he will defend them4      
#e3ah4 ,and his zeal will take armour1  
and he will arm the creature for  the   
revenge of his enemies4    #e3ai4 ,he   

will put on justice as a breastplate1   
and will take true  judgment instead of 
a helmet3    #e3bj4 ,he will take equity
 for an invincible shield3    #e3ba4    
,and he will sharpen his severe wrath   
for a spear1 and the whole  world shall 
fight with him against the unwise4      
#e3bb4 ,then shafts of lightning shall  
go directly from the clouds1 as  from a 
bow well bent1 they shall be shot out1  
and shall fly to the mark4      #e3bc4  
,and thick hail shall be cast upon them 
from the stone casting  wrath3 the water
 of the sea shall rage against them1 and
 the rivers  shall run together in a    
terrible manner4    #e3bd4 ,a mighty    
wind shall stand up against them1 and as
 a whirlwind  shall divide them3 and    
their iniquity shall bring all the earth
 to a  desert1 and wickedness shall     
overthrow the thrones of the mighty4    
,wisdom ,chapter #f    ,an address to   
princes to seek after wisdom3 she is    
easily found by those  that seek her4   
#f3a4 ,wisdom is better than strength3  

and a wise man is better than a  strong 
man4    #f3b4 ,hear1 therefore1 ye      
kings1 and understand1 learn ye that are
 judges  of the ends of the earth4      
#f3c4 ,give ear1 you that rule the      
people1 and that please yourselves in   
multitudes of nations3    #f3d4 ,for    
power is given you by the ,lord1 and    
strength by the most ,high1  who will   
examine your works3 and search out your 
thoughts3    #f3f4 ,because being       
ministers of his kingdom1 you have not  
judged  rightly1 nor kept the law of    
justice1 nor walked according to the    
will  of ,god4    #f3f4 ,horribly and   
speedily will he appear to you3 for a   
most severe  judgment shall be for them 
that bear rule4    #f3g4 ,for to him    
that is little1 mercy is granted3 but   
the mighty shall  be mightily tormented4
    #f3h4 ,for ,god will not except any 
man's person1 neither will he stand in  
awe of any man's greatness3 for he made 
the little and the great1 and he  hath  
equally care of all4    #f3i4 ,but a    

greater punishment is ready for the more
 mighty4    #f3aj4 ,to you1 therefore1  
,o kings1 are these my words1 that you  
may learn  wisdom1 and not fall from it4
    #f3aa4 ,for they that have kept just
 things justly1 shall be justified3  and
 they that have learned these things1   
shall find what to answer4    #f3ab4    
,covet ye1 therefore1 my words1 and love
 them1 and you shall have  instruction4 
#f3ac4 ,wisdom is glorious1 and never   
fadeth away1 and is easily seen by  them
 that love her1 and is found by them    
that seek her4    #f3ad4 ,she preventeth
 them that covet her1 so that she first 
sheweth  herself unto them4    #f3ae4   
,he that awaketh early to seek her1     
shall not labour3 for he shall  find her
 sitting at his door4    #f3af4 ,to     
think1 therefore1 upon her1 is perfect  
understanding3 and he  that watcheth for
 her1 shall quickly be secure4    #f3ag4
 ,for she goeth about seeking such as   
are worthy of her1 and she  sheweth     
herself to them cheerfully in the ways1 

and meeteth them with  all providence4  
#f3ah4 ,for the beginning of her is the 
most true desire of discipline4         
#f3ai4 ,and the care of discipline is   
love3 and love is the keeping of her    
laws3 and the keeping of her laws is the
 firm foundation of  incorruption3      
#f3bj4 ,and incorruption bringeth near  
to ,god4    #f3ba4 ,therefore the desire
 of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting  
kingdom4    #f3bb4 ,if then your delight
 be in thrones1 and sceptres1 ,o ye     
kings of  the people1 love wisdom1 that 
you may reign for ever4    #f3bc4 ,love 
the light of wisdom1 all ye that bear   
rule over peoples4    #f3bd4 ,now what  
wisdom is1 and what was her origin1 ,i  
will declare3 and ,i  will not hide from
 you the mysteries of ,god1 but will    
seek her out from  the beginning of her 
birth1 and bring the knowledge of her to
 light1 and  will not pass over the     
truth3    #f3be4 ,neither will ,i go    
with consuming envy3 for such a man     
shall not be  partaker of wisdom4       

#f3bf4 ,now the multitude of the wise is
 the welfare of the whole world3  and a 
wise king is the upholding of the       
people4    #f3bg4 ,receive1 therefore1  
instruction by my words1 and it shall be
  profitable to you4    ,wisdom ,chapter
 #g    ,the excellence of wisdom3 how   
she is to be found4    #g3a4 ,i myself  
am a mortal man1 like all others1 and of
 the race of him1  that was first made  
of the earth1 and in the womb of my     
mother ,i was  fashioned to be flesh4   
#g3b4 ,in the time of ten months ,i was 
compacted in blood1 of the seed of  man1
 and the pleasure of sleep concurring4  
#g3c4 ,and being born1 ,i drew in the   
common air1 and fell upon the earth1    
that is made alike1 and the first voice 
which ,i uttered was crying1 as  all    
others do4    #g3d4 ,i was nursed in    
swaddling clothes1 and with great cares4
    #g3e4 ,for none of the kings had any
 other beginning of birth4    #g3f4 ,for
 all men have one entrance into life1   
and the like going out4    #g3g4        

,wherefore ,i wished1 and understanding 
was given me3 and ,i called  upon ,god1 
and the spirit of wisdom came upon me3  
#g3h4 ,and ,i preferred her before      
kingdoms and thrones1 and esteemed      
riches nothing in comparison of her4    
#g3i4 ,neither did ,i compare unto her  
any precious stone3 for all gold1 in    
comparison of her1 is as a little sand2 
and silver1 in respect to her1  shall be
 counted as clay4    #g3aj4 ,i loved her
 above health and beauty1 and chose to  
have her instead  of light3 for her     
light cannot be put out4    #g3aa4 ,now 
all good things came to me together with
 her1 and innumerable  riches through   
her hands1    #g3ab4 ,and ,i rejoiced in
 all these3 for this wisdom went before 
me1 and ,i  knew not that she was the   
mother of them all4    #g3ac4 ,which ,i 
have learned without guile1 and         
communicate without envy1  and her      
riches ,i hide not4    #g3ad4 ,for she  
is an infinite treasure to men3 which   
they that use1  become the friends of   

,god1 being commended for the gifts of  
discipline4    #g3ae4 ,and ,god hath    
given to me to speak as ,i would1 and to
 conceive  thoughts worthy of those     
things that are given me3 because he is 
the  guide of wisdom1 and the director  
of the wise3    #g3af4 ,for in his hand 
are both we1 and our words1 and all     
wisdom1 and  the knowledge and skill of 
works4    #g3ag4 ,for he hath given me  
the true knowledge of the things that   
are3 to  know the disposition of the    
whole world1 and the virtues of the     
elements1    #g3ah4 ,the beginning1 and 
ending1 and midst of the times1 the     
alterations  of their courses1 and the  
changes of seasons1    #g3ai4 ,the      
revolutions of the year1 and the        
dispositions of the stars1    #g3bj4    
,the natures of living creatures1 and   
rage of wild beasts1 the  force of      
winds1 and reasonings of men1 the       
diversities of plants1 and  the virtues 
of roots1    #g3ba4 ,and all such things
 as are hid1 and not foreseen1 ,i have  

learned3  for wisdom1 which is the      
worker of all things1 taught me4        
#g3bb4 ,for in her is the spirit of     
understanding2 holy1 one1 manifold1     
subtile1 eloquent1 active1 undefiled1   
sure1 sweet1 loving that which is  good1
 quick1 which nothing hindereth1        
beneficent1    #g3bc4 ,gentle1 kind1    
steadfast1 assured1 secure1 having all  
power1  overseeing all things1 and      
containing all spirits3 intelligible1   
pure1  subtile3    #g3bd4 ,for wisdom is
 more active than all active things2 and
 reacheth  everywhere1 by reason of her 
purity4    #g3be4 ,for she is a vapour  
of the power of ,god1 and a certain pure
  emmanation of the glory of the        
,almighty ,god3 and therefore no defiled
  thing cometh into her4    #g3bf4 ,for 
she is the brightness of eternal light1 
and the unspotted  mirror of ,god's     
majesty1 and the image of his goodness4 
#g3bg4 ,and being but one1 she can do   
all things3 and remaining in herself    
the same1 she reneweth all things1 and  

through nations conveyeth herself  into 
holy souls1 she maketh the friends of   
,god and prophets4    #g3bh4 ,for ,god  
loveth none but him that dwelleth with  
wisdom4    #g3bi4 ,for she is more      
beautiful than the sun1 and above all   
the order of  the stars3 being compared 
with the light1 she is found before it4 
#g3cj4 ,for after this cometh night1 but
 no evil can overcome wisdom4    ,wisdom
 ,chapter #h    ,further praises of     
wisdom3 and her fruits4    #h3a4 ,she   
reacheth1 therefore1 from end to end    
mightily1 and ordereth all  things      
sweetly4    #h3b4 ,her have ,i loved1   
and have sought her out from my youth1  
and have  desired to take for my spouse1
 and ,i became a lover of her beauty4   
#h3c4 ,she glorifieth her nobility by   
being conversant with ,god3 yea1 and    
the ,lord of all things hath loved her4 
#h3d4 ,for it is she that teacheth the  
knowledge of ,god and is the chooser  of
 his works4    #h3e4 ,and if riches be  
desired in life1 what is richer than    

wisdom1 which  maketh all things8       
#h3f4 ,and if sense do work3 who is a   
more artful worker than she of those    
things that are8    #h3g4 ,and if a man 
love justice3 her labours have great    
virtues3 for she  teacheth temperance1  
and prudence1 and justice1 and          
fortitude1 which are  such things as men
 can have nothing more profitable in    
life4    #h3h4 ,and if a man desire much
 knowledge3 she knoweth things past1 and
  judgeth of things to come3 she knoweth
 the subtilties of speeches1 and  the   
solutions of arguments3 she knoweth     
signs and wonders before they be  done1 
and the events of times and ages4       
#h3i4 ,i purposed1 therefore1 to take   
her to me to live with me3 knowing  that
 she will communicate to me of her good 
things1 and will be a  comfort in my    
cares and grief4    #h3aj4 ,for her sake
 ,i shall have glory among the          
multitude1 and honour  with the         
ancients1 though ,i be young3    #h3aa4 
,and ,i shall be found of a quick       

conceit in judgment1 and shall be       
admired in the sight of the mighty1 and 
the faces of princes shall  wonder at   
me4    #h3ab4 ,they shall wait for me   
when ,i hold my peace1 and they shall   
look  upon me when ,i speak2 and if ,i  
talk much1 they shall lay their hands on
  their mouth4    #h3ac4 ,moreover1 by  
the means of her ,i shall have          
immortality3 and shall  leave behind me 
an everlasting memory to them that come 
after me4    #h3ad4 ,i shall set the    
people in order3 and nations shall be   
subject to  me4    #h3ae4 ,terrible     
kings hearing1 shall be afraid of me3   
among the multitude  ,i shall be found  
good1 and valiant in war4    #h3af4     
,when ,i go into my house1 ,i shall     
repose myself with her3 for her         
conversation hath no bitterness1 nor her
 company any tediousness1 but  joy and  
gladness4    #h3ag4 ,thinking these     
things with myself1 and pondering them  
in my heart1  that to be allied to      
wisdom is immortality1    #h3ah4 ,and   

that there is great delight in her      
friendship1 and  inexhaustible riches in
 the works of her hands1 and in the     
exercise of  conference with her1       
wisdom1 and glory in the communication  
of her  words3 ,i went about seeking1   
that ,i might take her to myself4       
#h3ai4 ,and ,i was a witty child1 and   
had received a good soul4    #h3bj4 ,and
 whereas ,i was more good1 ,i came to a 
body undefiled4    #h3ba4 ,and as ,i    
knew that ,i could not otherwise be     
continent1 except ,god  gave it1 and    
this also was a point of wisdom1 to know
 whose gift it was1  ,i went to the     
,lord1 and besought him1 and said with  
my whole heart3    ,wisdom ,chapter #i  
,solomon's prayer for wisdom4    #i3a4  
,god of my fathers1 and ,lord of mercy1 
who hast made all things with  thy word1
    #i3b4 ,and by thy wisdom hast       
appointed man1 that he should have      
dominion  over the creature that was    
made by thee1    #i3c4 ,that he should  
order the world according to equity and 

justice1 and  execute justice with an   
upright heart3    #i3d4 ,give me wisdom1
 that sitteth by thy throne1 and cast me
 not off  from among thy children3      
#i3e4 ,for ,i am thy servant1 and the   
son of thy handmaid1 a weak man1 and  of
 short time1 and falling short of the   
understanding of judgment and  laws4    
#i3f4 ,for if one be perfect among the  
children of men1 yet if thy wisdom  be  
not with him1 he shall be nothing       
regarded4    #i3g4 ,thou hast chosen me 
to be king of thy people1 and a judge of
 thy  sons and daughters3    #i3h4 ,and 
hast commanded me to build a temple on  
thy holy mount1 and an  altar in the    
city of thy dwelling place1 a           
resemblance of thy holy  tabernacle1    
which thou hast prepared from the       
beginning3    #i3i4 ,and thy wisdom with
 thee1 which knoweth thy works1 which   
then also  was present when thou madest 
the world1 and knew what was agreeable  
to  thy eyes1 and what was right in thy 
commandments4    #i3aj4 ,send her out of

 thy holy heaven1 and from the throne of
 thy  majesty1 that she may be with me1 
and may labour with me1 that ,i may     
know what is acceptable with thee3      
#i3aa4 ,for she knoweth and             
understandeth all things1 and shall lead
 me  soberly in my works1 and shall     
preserve me by her power4    #i3ab4 ,so 
shall my works be acceptable1 and ,i    
shall govern thy people  justly1 and    
shall be worthy of the throne of my     
father4    #i3ac4 ,for who among men is 
he that can know the counsel of ,god8 or
 who  can think what the will of ,god   
is8    #i3ad4 ,for the thoughts of      
mortal men are fearful1 and our counsels
  uncertain4    #i3ae4 ,for the         
corruptible body is a load upon the     
soul1 and the earthly  habitation       
presseth down the mind that museth upon 
many things4    #i3af4 ,and hardly do we
 guess aright at things that are upon   
earth3 and  with labour do we find the  
things that are before us4 ,but the     
things  that are in heaven1 who shall   

search out8    #i3ag4 ,and who shall    
know thy thought1 except thou give      
wisdom1 and send  thy holy ,spirit from 
above3    #i3ah4 ,and so the ways of    
them that are upon earth may be         
corrected1 and  men may learn the things
 that please thee8    #i3ai4 ,for by    
wisdom they were healed1 whosoever have 
pleased thee1 ,o  ,lord1 from the       
beginning4    ,wisdom ,chapter #aj      
,what wisdom did for ,adam1 ,noe1       
,abraham1 ,lot1 ,jacob1 ,joseph1 and the
  people of ,israel4    #aj3a4 ,she     
preserved him1 that was first formed by 
,god1 the father of the  world1 when he 
was created alone1    #aj3b4 ,and she   
brought him out of his sin1 and gave him
 power to govern  all things4    #aj3c4 
,but when the unjust went away from her 
in his anger1 he perished  by the fury  
wherewith he murdered his brother4      
,the unjust444 ,cain4    #aj3d4 ,for    
whose cause1 when water destroyed the   
earth1 wisdom healed it  again1         
directing the course of the just by     

contemptible wood4    ,for whose        
cause444 ,viz41 for the wickedness of   
the race of ,cain4-,ibid4  ,the just444 
,noe4    #aj3e4 ,moreover1 when the     
nations had conspired together to       
consent to  wickedness1 she knew the    
just1 and preserved him without blame to
 ,god1  and kept him strong against the 
compassion for his son4    ,she knew the
 just444 ,she found out and approved    
,abraham4 ,ibid4 ,and kept  him strong1 
etc444 ,gave him strength to stand firm 
against the efforts  of his natural     
tenderness1 when he was ordered to      
sacrifice his son4    #aj3f4 ,she       
delivered the just man1 who fled from   
the wicked that were  perishing1 when   
the fire came down upon ,pentapolis3    
,the just man444 ,lot4-,ibid4           
,pentapolis444 ,the land of the five    
cities1  ,sodom1 ,gomorrha1 etc4        
#aj3g4 ,whose land1 for a testimony of  
their wickedness1 is desolate1 and      
smoketh to this day1 and the trees bear 
fruits that ripen not1 and a  standing  

pillar of salt is a monument of an      
incredulous soul4    #aj3h4 ,for        
regarding not wisdom1 they did not only 
slip in this1 that  they were ignorant  
of good things2 but they left also unto 
men a  memorial of their folly1 so that 
in the things in which they sinned1     
they could not so much as lie hid4      
#aj3i4 ,but wisdom hath delivered from  
sorrow them that attend upon her4       
#aj3aj4 ,she conducted the just1 when he
 fled from his brother's wrath1  through
 the right ways1 and shewed him the     
kingdom of ,god1 and gave him  the      
knowledge of the holy things1 made him  
honourable in his labours1  and         
accomplished his labours4    ,the       
just444 ,jacob4    #aj3aa4 ,in the      
deceit of them that overreached him1 she
 stood by him1 and  made him honourable4
    #aj3ab4 ,she kept him safe from his 
enemies1 and she defended him from      
seducers1 and gave him a strong         
conflict1 that he might overcome1 and   
know that wisdom is mightier than all4  

,conflict444 ,viz41 with the angel4     
#aj3ac4 ,she forsook not the just when  
he was sold1 but delivered him from     
sinners3 she went down with him into the
 pit4    ,the just when he was sold444  
,viz41 ,joseph4    #aj3ad4 ,and in bands
 she left him not1 till she brought him 
the sceptre  of the kingdom1 and power  
against those that oppressed him3 and   
shewed  them to be liars that had       
accused him1 and gave him everlasting   
glory4    #aj3ae4 ,she delivered the    
just people1 and blameless seed1 from   
the  nations that oppressed them4       
#aj3af4 ,she entered into the soul of   
the servant of ,god and stood against   
dreadful kings in wonders and signs4    
,the servant of ,god444 ,viz41 ,moses4  
#aj3ag4 ,and she rendered to the just   
the wages of their labours1 and         
conducted them in a wonderful way3 and  
she was to them for a covert by  day1   
and for the light of stars by night3    
#aj3ah4 ,and she brought them through   
the ,red ,sea1 and carried them over    

through a great water4    #aj3ai4 ,but  
their enemies she drowned in the sea1   
and from the depth of  hell she brought 
them out4 ,therefore the just took the  
spoils of the  wicked4    #aj3bj4 ,and  
they sung to thy holy name1 ,o ,lord1   
and they praised with one  accord thy   
victorious hand4    #aj3ba4 ,for wisdom 
opened the mouth of the dumb1 and made  
the tongues of  infants eloquent4       
,wisdom ,chapter #aa    ,other benefits 
of wisdom to the people of ,god4        
#aa3a4 ,she prospered their works in the
 hands of the holy prophet4    ,the holy
 prophet444 ,moses4    #aa3b4 ,they went
 through wildernesses that were not     
inhabited1 and in  desert places they   
pitched their tents4    #aa3c4 ,they    
stood against their enemies1 and        
revenged themselves of their            
adversaries4    ,their enemies444 ,the  
,amalecites4    #aa3d4 ,they were       
thirsty1 and they called upon thee1 and 
water was given  them out of the high   
rock1 and a refreshment of their thirst 

out of the  hard stone4    #aa3e4 ,for  
by what things their enemies were       
punished1 when their drink  failed them1
 while the children of ,israel abounded 
therewith1 and  rejoiced3    ,by what   
things1 etc444 ,the meaning is1 that    
,god1 who wrought a miracle  to punish  
the ,egyptians by thirst1 when he turned
 all their waters into  blood1 7at which
 time the ,israelites1 who were exempt  
from those  plagues1 had plenty of      
water17 wrought another miracle in      
favour of his  own people in their      
thirst1 by giving them water out of the 
rock4    #aa3f4 ,by the same things they
 in their need were benefited4    #aa3g4
 ,for instead of a fountain of an ever  
running river1 thou gavest  human blood 
to the unjust4    #aa3h4 ,and whilst    
they were diminished for a manifest     
reproof of their  murdering the infants1
 thou gavest to thine abundant water    
unlooked for3    #aa3i4 ,shewing by the 
thirst that was then1 how thou didst    
exalt thine1  and didst kill their      

adversaries4    #aa3aj4 ,for when they  
were tried1 and chastised with mercy1   
they knew how  the wicked were judged   
with wrath1 and tormented4    #aa3aa4   
,for thou didst admonish and try them as
 a father3 but the others1  as a severe 
king1 thou didst examine and condemn4   
#aa3ab4 ,for whether absent or present1 
they were tormented alike4    #aa3ac4   
,for a double affliction came upon them1
 and a groaning for the  remembrance of 
things past4    #aa3ad4 ,for when they  
heard that by their punishments the     
others were  benefited1 they remembered 
the ,lord1 wondering at the end of what 
was  come to pass4    ,by their         
punishments1 etc444 ,that is1 that the  
,israelites had been  benefited and     
miraculously favoured in the same kind1 
in which they had  been punished4       
#aa3ae4 ,for whom they scorned before1  
when he was thrown out at the time  of  
his being wickedly exposed to perish1   
him they admired in the end1  when they 
saw the event3 their thirsting being    

unlike to that of the  just4    #aa3af4 
,but for the foolish devices of their   
iniqnity1 because some being  deceived  
worshipped dumb serpents and worthless  
beasts1 thou didst send  upon them a    
multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance3 
,dumb beasts444 ,viz41 frogs1 sciniphs1 
flies1 and locusts4    #aa3ag4 ,that    
they might know that by what things a   
man sinneth1 by the  same also he is    
tormented4    #aa3ah4 ,for thy almighty 
hand1 which made the world of matter    
without  form1 was not unable to send   
upon them a multitude of bears1 or      
fierce  lions1    #aa3ai4 ,or unknown   
beasts of a new kind1 full of rage2     
either breathing  out a fiery vapour1 or
 sending forth a stinking smoke1 or     
shooting  horrible sparks out of their  
eyes3    #aa3bj4 ,whereof not only the  
hurt might be able to destroy them1 but 
also  the very sight might kill them    
through fear4    #aa3ba4 ,yea1 and      
without these1 they might have been     
slain with one  blast1 persecuted by    

their own deeds1 and scattered by the   
breath of thy  power3 but thou hast     
ordered all things in measure1 and      
number1 and  weight4    #aa3bb4 ,for    
great power always belonged to thee     
alone3 and who shall  resist the        
strength of thy arm8    #aa3bc4 ,for the
 whole world before thee is as the least
 grain of the  balance1 and as a drop of
 the morning dew1 that falleth down upon
 tho  earth4    #aa3bd4 ,but thou hast  
mercy upon all1 because thou canst do   
all things1  and overlookest the sins of
 men for the sake of repentance4        
#aa3be4 ,for thou lovest all things that
 are1 and hatest none of the  things    
which thou hast made3 for thou didst not
 appoint1 or make any  thing hating it4 
#aa3bf4 ,and how could any thing endure1
 if thou wouldst not8 or be  preserved1 
if not called by thee8    #aa3bg4 ,but  
thou sparest all3 because they are      
thine1 ,o ,lord1 who lovest  souls4     
,wisdom ,chapter #ab    ,god's wisdom   
and mercy in his proceedings with the   

,chanaanites4    #ab3a4 ,o how good and 
sweet is thy ,spirit1 ,o ,lord1 in all  
things6    #ab3b4 ,and therefore thou   
chastisest them that err1 by little and 
little3  and admonishest them1 and      
speakest to them1 concerning the things 
wherein they offend3 that leaving their 
wickedness1 they may believe in  thee1  
,o ,lord4    #ab3c4 ,for those ancient  
inhabitants of thy holy land1 whom thou 
didst  abhor1    #ab3d4 ,because they   
did works hateful to thee by their      
sorceries1 and  wicked sacrifices1      
#ab3e4 ,and those merciless murderers of
 their own children1 and eaters of      
men's bowels1 and devourers of blood    
from the midst of thy consecration1     
,from the midst of thy consecration444  
,literally1 sacrament4 ,that is1 the    
land sacred to thee1 in which thy temple
 was to be established1 and  man's      
redemption to be wrought4    #ab3f4 ,and
 those parents sacrificing with their   
own hands helpless souls1  it was thy   
will to destroy by the hands of our     

parents1    #ab3g4 ,that the land which 
of all is most dear to thee1 might      
receive a  worthy colony of the children
 of ,god4    #ab3h4 ,yet even those thou
 sparedst as men1 and didst send wasps  
forerunners of thy host1 to destroy them
 by little and little4    #ab3i4 ,not   
that thou wast unable to bring the      
wicked under the just by  war1 or by    
cruel beasts1 or with one rough word to 
destroy them at once3    #ab3aj4 ,but   
executing thy judgments by degrees1 thou
 gavest them place of  repentance1 not  
being ignorant that they were a wicked  
generation1 and  their malice natural1  
and that their thought could never be   
changed4    #ab3aa4 ,for it was a cursed
 seed from the beginning3 neither didst 
thou  for fear of any one give pardon to
 their sins4    #ab3ab4 ,for who shall  
say to thee3 ,what hast thou done8  or  
who shall  withstand thy judgment8 or   
who shall come before thee to be a      
revenger  of wicked men8 or who shall   
accuse thee1 if the nations perish1     

which  thou hast made8    #ab3ac4 ,for  
there is no other ,god but thou1 who    
hast care of all1 that  thou shouldst   
shew that thou dost not give judgment   
unjustly4    #ab3ad4 ,neither shall     
king1 nor tyrant1 in thy sight inquire  
about them  whom thou hast destroyed4   
#ab3ae4 ,for so much then1 as thou art  
just1 thou orderest all things  justly3 
thinking it not agreeable to the power1 
to condemn him who  deserveth not to be 
punished4    #ab3af4 ,for thy power is  
the beginning of justice3 and because   
thou art  ,lord of all1 thou makest     
thyself gracious to all4    #ab3ag4 ,for
 thou shewest thy power1 when men will  
not believe thee to be  absolute in     
power1 and thou convincest the boldness 
of them that know  thee not4    #ab3ah4 
,but thou being master of power1 judgest
 with tranquillity1 and  with great     
favour disposest of us3 for thy power is
 at hand when thou  wilt4    #ab3ai4    
,but thou hast taught thy people by such
 works1 that they must be  just and     

humane1 and hast made thy children to be
 of a good hope3  because in judging1   
thou givest place for repentance for    
sins4    #ab3bj4 ,for if thou didst     
punish the enemies of thy servants1 and 
that  deserved to die1 with so great    
deliberation1 giving them time and place
  whereby they might be changed from    
their wickedness3    #ab3ba4 ,with what 
circumspection hast thou judged thy own 
children1 to  whose parents thou hast   
sworn1 and made covenants of good       
promises8    #ab3bb4 ,therefore whereas 
thou chastisest us1 thou scourgest our  
enemies  very many ways1 to the end that
 when we judge we may think on thy      
goodness3 and when we are judged1 we may
 hope for thy mercy4    #ab3bc4         
,wherefore thou hast also greatly       
tormented them1 who1 in their  life1    
have lived foolishly and unjustly1 by   
the same things which they  worshipped4 
#ab3bd4 ,for they went astray for a long
 time in the ways of error1  holding    
those things for gods which are the most

 worthless among beasts1  living after  
the manner of children without          
understanding4    #ab3be4 ,therefore    
thou hast sent a judgment upon them1 as 
senseless  children1 to mock them4      
#ab3bf4 ,but they that were not amended 
by mockeries and reprehensions1         
experienced the worthy judgment of ,god4
    #ab3bg4 ,for seeing1 with           
indignation1 that they suffered by those
 very  things which they took for gods1 
when they were destroyed by the same1   
they acknowledged him the true ,god1    
whom in time past they denied that  they
 knew3 for which cause the end also of  
their condemnation came upon  them4     
,wisdom ,chapter #ac    ,idolaters are  
inexcusable3 and those most of all that 
worship for gods  the works of the hands
 of men4    #ac3a4 ,but all men are     
vain1 in whom there is not the knowledge
 of ,god3  and who by these good things 
that are seen1 could not understand him 
that is1 neither by attending to the    
works have acknowledged who was the     

workman3    #ac3b4 ,but have imagined   
either the fire1 or the wind1 or the    
swift air1  or the circle of the stars1 
or the great water1 or the sun and moon1
 to  be the gods that rule the world4   
#ac3c4 ,with whose beauty1 if they1     
being delighted1 took them to be gods3  
let them know how much the ,lord of them
 is more beautiful than they3 for  the  
first author of beauty made all those   
things4    #ac3d4 ,or if they admired   
their power1 and their effects1 let them
  understand by them1 that he that made 
them1 is mightier than they3    #ac3e4  
,for by the greatness of the beauty1 and
 of the creature1 the  creator of them  
may be seen1 so as to be known thereby4 
#ac3f4 ,but yet as to these they are    
less to be blamed4  ,for they perhaps   
err1 seeking ,god1 and desirous to find 
him4    #ac3g4 ,for being conversant    
among his works1 they search3 and they  
are  persuaded that the things are good 
which are seen4    #ac3h4 ,but then     
again they are not to be pardoned4      

#ac3i4 ,for if they were able to know so
 much as to make a judgment of the      
world3 how did they not more easily find
 out the ,lord thereof8    #ac3aj4 ,but 
unhappy are they1 and their hope is     
among the dead1 who have  called gods   
the works of the hand of men1 gold and  
silver1 the  inventions of art1 and the 
resemblances of beasts1 or an           
unprofitable  stone the work of an      
ancient hand4    #ac3aa4 ,or if an      
artist1 a carpenter1 hath cut down a    
tree proper for his  use in the wood1   
and skilfully taken off all the bark    
thereof1 and with  his art1 diligently  
formeth a vessel profitable for the     
common uses of  life1    #ac3ab4 ,and   
useth the chips of his work to dress his
 meat3    #ac3ac4 ,and taking what was  
left thereof1 which is good for nothing1
  being a crooked piece of wood1 and    
full of knots1 carveth it diligently    
when he hath nothing else to do1 and by 
the skill of his art fashioneth  it1 and
 maketh it like the image of a man3     

#ac3ad4 ,or the resemblance of some     
beast1 laying it over with vermilion1   
and painting it red1 and covering every 
spot that is in it3    #ac3ae4 ,and     
maketh a convenient dwelling place for  
it1 and setting it in  a wall1 and      
fastening it with iron1    #ac3af4      
,providing for it1 lest it should fall1 
knowing that it is unable  to help      
itself3 for it is an image1 and hath    
need of help4    #ac3ag4 ,and then      
maketh prayer to it1 enquiring          
concerning his substance1  and his      
children1 or his marriage4  ,and he is  
not ashamed to speak to  that which hath
 no life3    #ac3ah4 ,and for health he 
maketh supplication to the weak1 and for
 life  prayeth to that which is dead1   
and for help calleth upon that which is 
unprofitable3    #ac3ai4 ,and for a good
 journey he petitioneth him that cannot 
walk3 and  for getting1 and for working1
 and for the event of all things he     
asketh  him that is unable to do any    
thing4    ,wisdom ,chapter #ad    ,the  

beginning of worshipping idols3 and the 
effects thereof4    #ad3a4 ,again1      
another designing to sail1 and beginning
 to make his voyage  through the raging 
waves1 calleth upon a piece of wood more
 frail than  the wood that carrieth him4
    #ad3b4 ,for this the desire of gain 
devised1 and the workman built it by    
his skill4    #ad3c4 ,but thy           
providence1 ,o ,father1 governeth it3   
for thou hast made a  way even in the   
sea1 and a most sure path among the     
waves1    #ad3d4 ,shewing that thou art 
able to save out of all things1 yea1    
though  a man went to sea without art4  
#ad3e4 ,but that the works of thy wisdom
 might not be idle3 therefore men  also 
trust their lives even to a little wood1
 and passing over the sea  by ship1 are 
saved4    #ad3f4 ,and from the beginning
 also1 when the proud giants perished1  
the  hope of the world fleeing to a     
vessel1 which was governed by thy hand1 
left to the world seed of generation4   
#ad3g4 ,for blessed is the wood1 by     

which justice cometh    #ad3h4 ,but the 
idol that is made by hands1 is cursed1  
as well it1 as he  that made it3 he     
because he made it2 and it because being
 frail it is  called a god4    #ad3i4   
,but to ,god the wicked and his         
wickedness are hateful alike4    #ad3aj4
 ,for that which is made1 together with 
him that made it1 shall  suffer         
torments4    #ad3aa4 ,therefore there   
shall be no respect had even to the     
idols of the  ,gentiles3 because the    
creatures of ,god are turned to an      
abomination1 and  a temptation to the   
souls of men1 and a snare to the feet of
 the unwise4      #ad3ab4 ,for the      
beginning of fornication is the devising
 of idols3 and  the invention of them is
 the corruption of life4    #ad3ac4 ,for
 neither were they from the beginning1  
neither shall they be  for ever4        
#ad3ad4 ,for by the vanity of men they  
came into the world3 and therefore  they
 shall be found to come shortly to an   
end4    #ad3ae4 ,for a father being     

afflicted with bitter grief1 made to    
himself  the image of his son1 who was  
quickly taken away3 and him who then had
  died as a man1 he began now to worship
 as a god1 and appointed him rites  and 
sacrifices among his servants4          
#ad3af4 ,then1 in process of time1      
wicked custom prevailing1 this error    
was kept as a law1 and statues were     
worshipped by the commandment of        
tyrants4    #ad3ag4 ,and those whom men 
could not honour in presence1 because   
they  dwelt far off1 they brought their 
resemblance from afar1 and made an      
express image of the king1 whom they had
 a mind to honour3 that by this  their  
diligence1 they might honour as present1
 him that was absent4    #ad3ah4 ,and to
 the worshipping of these1 the singular 
diligence also of  the artificer helped 
to set forward the ignorant4    #ad3ai4 
,for he being willing to please him that
 employed him1 laboured  with all his   
art to make the resemblance in the best 
manner4    #ad3bj4 ,and the multitude of

 men1 carried away by the beauty of the 
work1  took him now for a god1 that     
little before was but honoured as a man4
    #ad3ba4 ,and this was the occasion  
of deceiving human life3 for men        
serving either their affection1 or their
 kings1 gave the incommunicable  name to
 stones and wood4    #ad3bb4 ,and it was
 not enough for them to err about the   
knowledge of ,god1  but whereas they    
lived in a great war of ignorance1 they 
call so many  and so great evils peace4 
#ad3bc4 ,for either they sacrifice their
 own children1 or use hidden            
sacrifices1 or keep watches full of     
madness1    #ad3bd4 ,so that now they   
neither keep life1 nor marriage         
undefiled1 but  one killeth another     
through envy1 or grieveth him by        
adultery3    #ad3be4 ,and all things are
 mingled together1 blood1 murder1 theft1
 and  dissimulation1 corruption and     
unfaithfulness1 tumults and perjury1    
disquieting of the good1    #ad3bf4     
,forgetfulness of ,god1 defiling of     

souls1 changing of nature1  disorder in 
marriage1 and the irregularity of       
adultery and uncleanness4    #ad3bg4    
,for the worship of abominable idols is 
the cause1 and the  beginning and end of
 all evil4    #ad3bh4 ,for either they  
are mad when they are merry3 or they    
prophesy  lies1 or they live unjustly1  
or easily forswear themselves4          
#ad3bi4 ,for whilst they trust in idols1
 which are without life1 though  they   
swear amiss1 they look not to be hurt4  
#ad3cj4 ,but for both these things they 
shall be justly punished1 because  they 
have thought not well of ,god1 giving   
heed to idols1 and have sworn  unjustly1
 in guile despising justice4    #ad3ca4 
,for it is not the power of them1 by    
whom they swear1 but the just  vengeance
 of sinners always punisheth the        
transgression of the unjust4    ,wisdom 
,chapter #ae    ,the servants of ,god   
praise him who hath delivered them from 
idolatry2  condemning both the makers   
and the worshippers of idols4    #ae3a4 

,but thou1 our ,god1 art gracious and   
true1 patient1 and ordering  all things 
in mercy4    #ae3b4 ,for if we sin1 we  
are thine1 knowing thy greatness3 and if
 we sin  not1 we know that we are       
counted with thee4    #ae3c4 ,for to    
know thee is perfect justice3 and to    
know thy justice1 and  thy power1 is the
 root of immortality4    #ae3d4 ,for the
 invention of mischievous men hath not  
deceived us1 nor the  shadow of a       
picture1 a fruitless labour1 a graven   
figure with divers  colours1    #ae3e4  
,the sight whereof enticeth the fool to 
lust after it1 and he  loveth the       
lifeless figure of a dead image4        
#ae3f4 ,the lovers of evil things       
deserve to have no better things to     
trust in1 both they that make them1 and 
they that love them1 and they  that     
worship them4    #ae3g4 ,the potter also
 tempering soft earth1 with labour      
fashioneth every  vessel for our        
service1 and of the same clay he maketh 
both vessels that  are for clean uses1  

and likewise such as serve to the       
contrary3 but what  is the use of these 
vessels1 the potter is the judge4       
#ae3h4 ,and of the same clay by a vain  
labour he maketh a god3 he who a  little
 before was made of earth himself1 and a
 little after returneth to  the same out
 of which he was taken1 when his life1  
which was lent him1  shall be called for
 again4    #ae3i4 ,but his care is1 not 
that he shall labour1 nor that his life 
is  short1 but he striveth with the     
goldsmiths and silversmiths3 and he     
endeavoureth to do like the workers in  
brass1 and counteth it a glory to  make 
vain things4    #ae3aj4 ,for his heart  
is ashes1 and his hope vain earth and   
his life more  base than clay3          
#ae3aa4 ,forasmuch as he knew not his   
maker1 and him that inspired into  him  
the soul that worketh1 and that breathed
 into him a living spirit4    #ae3ab4   
,yea1 and they have counted our life a  
pastime and the business of  life to be 
gain1 and that we must be getting every 

way1 even out of  evil4    #ae3ac4 ,for 
that man knoweth that he offendeth above
 all others1 who of  earthly matter     
maketh brittle vessels1 and graven gods4
    #ae3ad4 ,but all the enemies of thy 
people that hold them in subjection1    
are foolish1 and unhappy1 and proud     
beyond measure3    #ae3ae4 ,for they    
have esteemed all the idols of the      
heathens for gods1  which neither have  
the use of eyes to see1 nor noses to    
draw breath1 nor  ears to hear1 nor     
fingers of hands to handle1 and as for  
their feet1  they are slow to walk4     
#ae3af4 ,for man made them3 and he that 
borroweth his own breath1  fashioned    
them4 ,for no man can make a god like to
 himself4    #ae3ag4 ,for being mortal  
himself1 he formeth a dead thing with   
his wicked  hands4 ,for he is better    
than they whom he worshippeth1 because  
he indeed  hath lived1 though he were   
mortal1 but they never4    #ae3ah4      
,moreover1 they worship also the vilest 
creatures3 but things  without sense1   

compared to these1 are worse than they4 
#ae3ai4 ,yea1 neither by sight can any  
man see good of these beasts4 ,but  they
 have fled from the praise of ,god1 and 
from his blessing4    ,wisdom ,chapter  
#af    ,god's different dealings with   
the ,egyptians and with his own people4 
#af3a4 ,for these things1 and by the    
like things to these1 they were         
worthily punished1 and were destroyed by
 a multitude of beasts4    #af3b4       
,instead of which punishment1 dealiug   
well with thy people1 thou  gavest them 
their desire of delicious food1 of a new
 taste1 preparing  for them quails for  
their meat3    #af3c4 ,to the end1 that 
they indeed desiring food1 by means of  
those  things that were shewn and sent  
among them1 might loath even that which 
was necessary to satisfy their desire4  
,but these1 after suffering want  for a 
short time1 tasted a new meat4    ,they 
indeed desiring food1 etc444 ,he means  
the ,egyptians2 who were  restrained    
even from that food which was necessary1

 by the frogs and the  flies that were  
sent amongst them1 and spoiled all their
 meats4-,ibid4  ,but these444 ,viz41 the
 ,israelites4    #af3d4 ,for it was     
requisite that inevitable destruction   
should come upon  them that exercised   
tyranny3 but to these it should only be 
shewn how  their enemies were destroyed4
    #af3e4 ,for when the fierce rage of 
beasts came upon these1 they were       
destroyed by the bitings of crooked     
serpents4    #af3f4 ,but thy wrath      
endured not for ever1 but they were     
troubled for a  short time for their    
correction1 having a sign of salvation1 
to put them  in remembrance of the      
commandment of thy law4    ,sign of     
salvation444 ,the brazen serpent1 an    
emblem of ,christ our  ,saviour4        
#af3g4 ,for he that turned to it1 was   
not healed by that which he saw1 but  by
 thee1 the ,saviour of all4    #af3h4   
,and in this thou didst shew to our     
enemies1 that thou art he who           
deliverest from all evil4    #af3i4 ,for

 the bitings of locusts1 and of flies1  
killed them1 and there  was found no    
remedy for their life3 because they were
 worthy to be  destroyed by such things4
    #af3aj4 ,but not even the teeth of  
venomous serpents overcame thy          
children3 for thy mercy came and healed 
them4    #af3aa4 ,for they were examined
 for the remembrance of thy words1 and  
were  quickly healed1 lest falling into 
deep forgetfulness1 they might not be   
able to use thy help4    #af3ab4 ,for it
 was neither herb1 nor mollifying       
plaster1 that healed  them1 but thy     
word1 ,o ,lord1 which healeth all       
things4    #af3ac4 ,for it is thou1 ,o  
,lord1 that hast power of life and      
death1 and  leadest down to the gates of
 death1 and bringest back again3        
#af3ad4 ,a man indeed killeth through   
malice1 and when the spirit is gone     
forth1 it shall not return1 neither     
shall he call back the soul that is     
received3    #af3ae4 ,but it is         
impossible to escape thy hand3          

#af3af4 ,for the wicked that denied to  
know thee1 were scourged by the         
strength of thy arm1 being persecuted by
 strange waters1 and hail1 and  rain1   
and consumed by fire4    #af3ag4 ,and   
which was wonderful1 in water1 which    
extinguisheth all  things1 the fire had 
more force3 for the world fighteth for  
the just4    ,the fire had more force444
 ,viz41 when the fire and hail mingled  
together  laid waste the land of ,egypt4
 ,ex4 #i4    #af3ah4 ,for at one time   
the fire was mitigated1 that the beasts 
which  were sent against the wicked     
might not be burnt1 but that they might 
see1 and perceive that they were        
persecuted by the judgment of ,god4     
#af3ai4 ,and at another time the fire1  
above its own power1 burnt in the  midst
 of water1 to destroy the fruits of a   
wicked land4    #af3bj4 ,instead of     
which things1 thou didst feed thy people
 with the food  of angels1 and gavest   
them bread from heaven1 prepared without
 labour2  having in it all that is      

delicious1 and the sweetness of every   
taste4    #af3ba4 ,for thy sustenance   
shewed thy sweetness to thy children1   
and  serving every man's will1 it was   
turned to what every man liked4         
#af3bb4 ,but snow and ice endured the   
force of fire1 and melted not3 that     
they might know that the fire1 burning  
in the hail1 and flashing in the  rain1 
destroyed the fruits of the enemies4    
#af3bc4 ,but this same again1 that the  
just might be nourished1 did even       
forget its own strength4    #af3bd4 ,for
 the creature serving thee1 the         
,creator1 is made fierce  against the   
unjust for their punishment3 and abateth
 its strength for  the benefit of them  
that trust in thee4    #af3be4          
,therefore even then it was transformed 
into all things1 and was  obedient to   
thy grace1 that nourisheth all1         
according to the will of  them that     
desired it of thee3    #af3bf4 ,that thy
 children1 ,o ,lord1 whom thou lovedst1 
might know that it  is not the growing  

of fruits that nourisheth men1 but thy  
word  preserveth them that believe in   
thee4    #af3bg4 ,for that which could  
not be destroyed by fire1 being warmed  
with  a little sunbeam1 presently melted
 away3    #af3bh4 ,that it might be     
known to all1 that we ought to prevent  
the sun  to bless thee1 and adore thee  
at the dawning of the light4    #af3bi4 
,for the hope of the unthankful shall   
melt away as the winter's  ice1 and     
shall run off as unprofitable water4    
,wisdom ,chapter #ag    ,the ,egyptian  
darkness4    #ag3a4 ,for thy judgments1 
,o ,lord1 are great1 and thy words      
cannot be  expressed3 therefore         
undisciplined souls have erred4         
#ag3b4 ,for while the wicked thought to 
be able to have dominion over the  holy 
nation1 they themselves being fettered  
with the bonds of darkness1  and a long 
night1 shut up in their houses1 lay     
there exiled from the  eternal          
providence4    #ag3c4 ,and while they   
thought to lie hid in their obscure     

sins1 they were  scattered under a dark 
veil of forgetfullness1 being horribly  
afraid1  and troubled with exceeding    
great astonishment4    #ag3d4 ,for      
neither did the den that held them1 keep
 them from fear3 for  noises coming down
 troubled them1 and sad visions         
appearing to them1  affrighted them4    
#ag3e4 ,and no power of fire could give 
them light1 neither could the  bright   
flames of the stars enlighten that      
horrible night4    #ag3f4 ,but there    
appeared to them a sudden fire1 very    
dreadful3 and being  struck with the    
fear of that face1 which was not seen1  
they thought the  things which they saw 
to be worse3    #ag3g4 ,and the         
delusions of their magic art were put   
down1 and their  boasting of wisdom was 
reproachfully rebuked4    #ag3h4 ,for   
they who promised to drive away fears   
and troubles from a sick  soul1 were    
sick themselves of a fear worthy to be  
laughed at4    #ag3i4 ,for though no    
terrible thing disturbed them3 yet being

 scared with  the passing by of beasts1 
and hissing of serpents1 they died for  
fear  and denying that they saw the air1
 which could by no means be avoided4    
#ag3aj4 ,for whereas wickedness is      
fearful1 it beareth witness of its      
condemnation3 for a troubled conscience 
always forecasteth grievous  things4    
#ag3aa4 ,for fear is nothing else but a 
yielding up of the succours from        
thought4    #ag3ab4 ,and while there is 
less expectation from within1 the       
greater doth  it count the ignorance of 
that cause which bringeth the torment4  
#ag3ac4 ,but they that during that      
night1 in which nothing could be done1  
and which came upon them from the lowest
 and deepest hell1 slept the  same      
sleep1    #ag3ad4 ,were sometimes       
molested with the fear of monsters1     
sometimes  fainted away1 their soul     
failing them3 for a sudden and unlooked 
for  fear was come upon them4    #ag3ae4
 ,moreover1 if any of them had fallen   
down1 he was kept shut up in  prison    

without irons4    #ag3af4 ,for if any   
one were a husbandman1 or a shepherd1 or
 a labourer in  the field1 and was      
suddenly overtaken1 he endured a        
necessity from which  he could not fly4 
#ag3ag4 ,for they were all bound        
together with one chain of darkness4    
,whether it were a whistling wind1 or   
the melodious voice of birds1 among  the
 spreading branches of trees1 or a fall 
of water running down with  violence1   
#ag3ah4 ,or the mighty noise of stones  
tumbling down1 or the running that      
could not be seen of beasts playing     
together1 or the roaring voice of  wild 
beasts1 or a rebounding echo from the   
highest mountains3 these  things made   
them to swoon for fear4    #ag3ai4 ,for 
the whole world was enlightened1 with a 
clear light1 and none  were hindered in 
their labours4    #ag3bj4 ,but over them
 only was spread a heavy night1 an image
 of that  darkness which was to come    
upon them4 ,but they were to themselves 
more  grievous than the darkness4       

,wisdom ,chapter #ah    ,the slaughter  
of the firstborn in ,egypt3 the efficacy
 of ,aaron's  intercession1 in the      
sedition on occasion of ,core4    #ah3a4
 ,but thy saints had a very great light1
 and they heard their voice  indeed1 but
 did not see their shape4 ,and because  
they also did not  suffer the same      
things1 they glorified thee3    #ah3b4  
,and they that before had been wronged1 
gave thanks1 because they  were not hurt
 now3 and asked this gift1 that there   
might be a  difference4    #ah3c4       
,therefore they received a burning      
pillar of fire for a guide of  the way  
which they knew not1 and thou gavest    
them a harmless sun of a  good          
entertainment4    ,a harmless sun444 ,a 
light that should not hurt or molest    
them2 but that  should be an agreeable  
guest to them4    #ah3d4 ,the others    
indeed were worthy to be deprived of    
light1 and  imprisoned in darkness1 who 
kept thy children shut up1 by whom the  
pure  light of the law was to be given  

to the world4    #ah3e4 ,and whereas    
they thought to kill the babes of the   
just3 one child  being cast forth1 and  
saved to reprove them1 thou tookest away
 a  multitude of their children1 and    
destroyedst them altogether in a mighty 
water4    ,one child444 ,viz41 ,moses4  
#ah3f4 ,for that night was known before 
by our fathers1 that assuredly  knowing 
what oaths they had trusted to1 they    
might be of better courage4      #ah3g4 
,so thy people received the salvation of
 the just1 and destruction  of the      
unjust4    #ah3h4 ,for as thou didst    
punish the adversaries so thou didst    
also  encourage and glorify us4         
#ah3i4 ,for the just children of good   
men were offering sacrifice  secretly1  
and they unanimously ordered a law of   
justice3 that the just  should receive  
both good and evil alike1 singing now   
the praises of the  fathers4    ,of good
 men444 ,viz41 of the patriarchs4 ,their
 children1 the ,israelites1  offered in 
private the sacrifice of the paschal    

lamb2 and were  regulating what they    
were to do in their journey1 when that  
last and  most dreadful plague was      
coming upon their enemies4    #ah3aj4   
,but on the other side there sounded an 
ill according cry of the  enemies1 and a
 lamentable mourning was heard for the  
children that were  bewailed4    #ah3aa4
 ,and the servant suffered the same     
punishment as the master1 and a  common 
man suffered in like manner as the king4
    #ah3ab4 ,so all alike had           
innumerable dead1 with one kind of      
death4  ,neither were the living        
sufficient to bury them3 for in one     
moment the  noblest offspring of them   
was destroyed4    ,the noblest          
offspring444 ,that is1 the firstborn4   
#ah3ac4 ,for whereas they would not     
believe any thing before by reason of   
the enchantments1 then first upon the   
destruction of the firstborn1 they      
acknowledged the people to be of ,god4  
#ah3ad4 ,for while all things were in   
quiet silence1 and the night was in  the

 midst of her course1    #ah3ae4 ,thy   
,almighty word leaped down from heaven  
from thy royal throne1  as a fierce     
conqueror into the midst of the land of 
destruction1    #ah3af4 ,with a sharp   
sword carrying thy unfeigned            
commandment1 and he  stood and filled   
all things with death1 and standing on  
the earth1  reached even to heaven4     
#ah3ag4 ,then suddenly visions of evil  
dreams troubled them1 and fears         
unlooked for came upon them4    #ah3ah4 
,and one thrown here1 another there1    
half dead1 shewed the cause  of his     
death4    #ah3ai4 ,for the visions that 
troubled them foreshewed these things1  
lest  they should perish1 and not know  
why they suffered these evils4          
#ah3bj4 ,but the just also were         
afterwards touched by an assault of     
death1  and there was a disturbance of  
the multitude in the wilderness3 but thy
  wrath did not long continue2          
#ah3ba4 ,for a blameless man made haste 
to pry for the people1 bringing  forth  

the shield of his ministry1 prayer1 and 
by incense making  supplication1        
withstood the wrath1 and put an end to  
the calamity1  shewing that he was thy  
servant4    #ah3bb4 ,and he overcame the
 disturbance1 not by strength of body   
nor with  force of arms1 but with a word
 he subdued him that punished them1     
alleging the oath and covenant made with
 the fathers4    #ah3bc4 ,for when they 
were now fallen down dead by heaps one  
upon  another1 he stood between and     
stayed the assault1 and cut off the way 
to  the living4    #ah3bd4 ,for in the  
priestly robe which he wore1 was the    
whole world3 and  in the four rows of   
the stones1 the glory of the fathers was
 graven1 and  thy majesty was written   
upon the diadem of his head4    #ah3bf4 
,and to these the destroyer gave place1 
and was afraid of them3  for the proof  
only of wrath was enough4    ,wisdom    
,chapter #ai    ,why ,god shewed no     
mercy to the ,egyptians4 ,his favour to 
the ,israelites4  ,all creatures obey   

,god's orders for the service of the    
good1 and the  punishment of the wicked4
    #ai3a4 ,but as to the wicked1 even  
to the end there came upon them wrath   
without mercy4 ,for he knew before also 
what they would do3    #ai3b4 ,for when 
they had given them leave to depart and 
had sent them  away with great care1    
they repented and pursued after them4   
#ai3c4 ,for whilst they were yet        
mourning1 and lamenting at the graves of
  the dead1 they took up another foolish
 device3 and pursued them as  fugitives 
whom they had pressed to be gone3       
#ai3d4 ,for a necessity1 of which they  
were worthy1 brought them to this  end3 
and they lost the remembrance of those  
things which had happened1  that their  
punishment might fill up what was       
wanting to their torments3    #ai3e4    
,and that thy people might wonderfully  
pass through1 but they might  find a new
 death4    #ai3f4 ,for every creature1  
according to its kind was fashioned     
again as  from the beginning1 obeying   

thy commandments1 that thy children     
might be  kept without hurt4    #ai3g4  
,for a cloud overshadowed their camps   
and where water was before1  dry land   
appeared1 and in the ,red ,sea a way    
without hindrance1 and out  of the great
 deep a springing field3    #ai3h4      
,through which all the nation passed    
which was protected with thy  hand1     
seeing thy miracles and wonders4        
#ai3i4 ,for they fed on their food like 
horses1 and they skipped like  lambs1   
praising thee1 ,o ,lord1 who hadst      
delivered them4    #ai3aj4 ,for they    
were yet mindful of those things which  
had been done in  the time of their     
sojourning1 how the ground brought forth
 flies instead  of cattle1 and how the  
river cast up a multitude of frogs      
instead of  fishes4    #ai3aa4 ,and at  
length they saw a new generation of     
birds1 when being led  by their         
appetite1 they asked for delicate meats4
    #ai3ab4 ,for to satisfy their       
desire1 the quail came up to them from  

the  sea3 and punishments came upon the 
sinners1 not without foregoing signs  by
 the force of thunders3 for they        
suffered justly according to their  own 
wickedness4    #ai3ac4 ,for they        
exercised a more detestable             
inhospitality than any3  others indeed  
received not strangers unknown to them1 
but these brought  their guests into    
bondage that had deserved well of them4 
#ai3ad4 ,and not only so1 but in another
 respect also they were worse3 for  the 
others against their will received the  
strangers4    #ai3ae4 ,but these        
grievously afflicted them whom they had 
received with  joy1 and who lived under 
the same laws4    #ai3af4 ,but they were
 struck with blindness3 as those others 
were at the  doors of the just man1 when
 they were covered with sudden darkness1
 and  every one sought the passage of   
his own door4    #ai3ag4 ,for while the 
elements are changed in themselves1 as  
in an  instrument the sound of the      
quality is changed1 yet all keep their  

sound3 which may clearly be perceived by
 the very sight4    ,elements are       
changed1 etc444 ,the meaning is1 that   
whatever changes ,god  wrought in the   
elements by miracles in favour of his   
people1 they still  kept their harmony  
by obeying his will4    #ai3ah4 ,for the
 things of the land were turned into    
things of the water3  and the things    
that before swam in the water passed    
upon the land4    #ai3ai4 ,the fire had 
power in water above its own virtue1 and
 the water  forgot its quenching nature4
    #ai3bj4 ,on the other side1 the     
flames wasted not the flesh of          
corruptible  animals walking therein1   
neither did they melt that good food1   
which was  apt to melt as ice4 ,for in  
all things thou didst magnify thy       
people1 ,o  ,lord1 and didst honour     
them1 and didst not despise them1 but   
didst  assist them at all times1 and in 
every place4    ,that good food444 ,the 
manna4