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Chapter 5ViaRegia.1.5

De sapientia

The Royal Road of Wisdom

The king is exhorted to walk the royal road of wisdom, which is rooted in the fear of the Lord.

We ought to give God abundant thanks, who commands us to press on toward the heavenly kingdoms by the royal road, so that by walking the straight paths we may happily deserve to reach the heavenly homeland. We must not turn aside to the right or the left; we have to advance along the royal road with a firm, steady step. Heavenly and holy wisdom must be joined to pure and holy fear, so that with both virtues united we may deserve to reach immortal life.✦1 For Scripture says that the crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And: The beginning of wisdom is to fear God. And: As Scripture says, the fullness of wisdom and the root of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. If, then, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and its fullness, and its crown, and the root of that same wisdom, it is perfectly clear that one depends on the other, and that one follows upon the other. Therefore, we must keep them together, not apart.2 It is fitting, then, that we place wisdom after fear; because, as it is written, wisdom does not enter a malicious soul, but enters the one who fears God.

A King's Call to Seek Wisdom

The author directly addresses the king, urging him to pursue wisdom above all earthly riches.

So fear God, most illustrious king, and prepare your soul to receive wisdom, so that as a king you can wisely walk the royal road with wisdom. For the Book of Wisdom, crying out especially and often to kings, says: So these words of mine are for you, kings, so that you may learn wisdom and not fall away; for those who keep what is just will be justly justified. Wisdom is bright and never withers; she is easily seen by those who love her, and she is found by those who seek her. So you hear, most illustrious king, that this heavenly voice is directed especially to kings—and by the gift of divine grace you are one of them; and so that they may act wisely, the divine oracle cries out often to kings. And so we too, bowing low, urgently ask your most illustrious excellence to learn the divine and bright wisdom with care, to seek her diligently and constantly—not lukewarmly or slowly, but shrewdly and watchfully to search her out—and to long for her more than for gold and silver. For this is how it is written about her: The desire for wisdom, then, leads to everlasting kingdoms. So if you delight in thrones and royal lineages, you kings of the people, love wisdom, so that you may reign forever with her.3 Love the light of wisdom, all you who govern peoples.

The Common Humanity of Kings

Solomon's own testimony reminds the king of his mortal origins and the superiority of wisdom over worldly power.

So we ask you, most holy king: listen carefully to what Solomon says about himself, and what he says in praise of wisdom. For he says: I too am a mortal man, like everyone else, and of the stock of that earthborn one who was made first; in my mother's womb I was shaped as flesh; for ten months I was compacted in blood from human seed and the pleasure that comes with sleep; and I too, once born, drew the common air, fell upon the earth that is made the same for all, and my first cry was like everyone else's, weeping.4 I was nurtured in swaddling clothes, and with great care.5 For no king has had any other beginning of birth. There is one entrance into life for all, and a like exit. For this reason I prayed, and understanding was given to me; I called out, and the spirit of wisdom came into me. I preferred her to kingdoms and thrones, and I counted riches as nothing compared with her. I didn't set any precious stone beside her, because all gold next to her is a little sand, and silver will be counted as clay in her sight.6 All good things came to me together with her, and countless riches through her hands; I rejoiced in them all, because this wisdom went before me, and so on.78 For she is more precious than the sun and above every arrangement of the stars; compared with light, she is found superior. Night succeeds that light, but wisdom is not overcome by malice.9

The Power and Beauty of Wisdom

Wisdom is described as a powerful, life-giving force that enables just governance and grants immortality.

So she reaches from end to end with power, and she orders all things gently. I have loved her and sought her since my youth, and I sought to take her as my bride, and I became a lover of her beauty. Her nobility is made glorious by her companionship with God—and the Lord of all has loved her.10 For she teaches sobriety and prudence, justice and fortitude—and nothing is more useful to people in life than these.11 Because of her I will have immortality, and I will leave an everlasting memory to those who come after me. I will govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me. Dread kings who hear of me will fear me, and among the crowds I will appear good, and strong in war.

Wisdom as a Royal Virtue

Wisdom is defined as a royal virtue that bestows the seven gifts of the Spirit and secures the kingdom.

Take note and understand this, most noble and illustrious king: wisdom is a royal virtue that flows in mysterious ways from the overflowing treasury of the King of kings. It isn't given to the careless or the proud, the envious or the ill-willed, but is granted to the gentle, the humble, and those who fear God.✦12 Truly, without a doubt, wisdom is a royal virtue, and the prophetic word calls out specifically to those for whom it is intended, so that they may learn wisdom.13 Wisdom is a royal virtue because it makes kings who act well just, beaming an unquenchable light of knowledge upon them. It lights the eyes of the heart, brightens the powers of the mind, provides a keen intellect, grants health of body, confers uprightness of character, multiplies endless treasures, strengthens the power of the kingdom, and makes them sharers in God's friendship. It fills them with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and fortitude, of knowledge and piety, and of the fear of the Lord.✦✦14 It gives kings justice and prudence, fortitude and temperance; it provides virtue and sobriety. It makes them steady in the kingdom, reliable in their word, gracious in speech, generous in giving, humane in mercy, gentle in reply, shrewd in discernment, mild in prosperity, secure in adversity, sharp in judgment, calm in action, open and honest in countenance, and strong in war. Wisdom grants kings the power to order the kingdoms subject to them with good judgment, and already makes the peoples they hold serve them gently.15 It also enables them to powerfully crush threatening foreign enemies, subdue fierce nations, and trample down savage kings—in short, the entire order of the kingdom rests on wisdom. Wisdom is a great treasure: whoever finds it will find life, and whoever possesses it will have the crown of immortality. It is the Lord's hidden treasure, and it isn't revealed to everyone.

The Hidden Treasure of Understanding

Drawing from the Book of Job, the author emphasizes that true wisdom is a divine mystery beyond human price.

For this is how that most famous man Job bears witness about wisdom, saying: But where is wisdom found? And where is the place of understanding?✦ No one knows its worth, and it isn't found in the land of those who live at ease.✦16 The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'✦ Pure gold won't be given for it, nor will silver be weighed out in exchange for it.✦17 Neither gold nor crystal can be matched with it, nor will vessels of gold be exchanged for it. Lofty and splendid things won't even be remembered beside it. But wisdom is drawn from hidden places, and so on.✦✦1819 So where does wisdom come from?✦ And where is the place of understanding?✦ It’s hidden from the eyes of every living thing, and it’s hidden from the birds of the sky as well.✦ Destruction and Death have said: "With our own ears we have heard report of it."✦20 God understands its way, and he himself knows its place, and so on.✦21 And he said to humankind, "Look—the fear of the Lord is wisdom itself, and turning away from evil is understanding."✦

The Incomparable Worth of Wisdom

The author reiterates that no precious stone or metal can compare to the value of wisdom for a king.

For this report of wisdom that resounds here is great and beyond searching, most illustrious king, as you see; without doubt it is a royal virtue, with which pure gold is not compared, or refined gold, nor will the brightest silver be matched to it, nor is clear glass set beside it.22 In comparison with it the sardonyx becomes cheap, the sapphire is counted as nothing, and the topaz is lightly valued. Golden vessels aren't proudly prized, the purest dyes won't be weighed in the balance, nor will any precious and multicolored gems be valued.23 Truly, as you see, wisdom is a royal virtue, and kings should love it above all.

The Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs

Wisdom speaks through the Proverbs, promising her presence to those who seek her with a pure heart.

So love her, most illustrious king, so that you may be loved by her. For this is how her voice sounds in Proverbs: "I love those who love me," she says, "and those who keep early watch for me will find me." Prepare your royal heart with good deeds so that she may always delight in dwelling within your counsel. Let her teach you through inward thoughts whatever you ought to carry out in your deeds. For counsel is hers, and she makes it known to whom she wills; prudence is hers, and she offers it to whom she wills; strength is hers, and she grants it to whom she wills; the kingdom is hers, and she entrusts it to whom she wills and as much as she wills. For her voice, through Solomon in Proverbs, cries out like this: "I, Wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I take part in learned thoughts." "Counsel and equity are mine; prudence is mine; strength is mine." "Through me kings reign, and lawgivers decree what is just." "Through me princes govern, and the powerful decree justice." I love those who love me, and those who watch for me early will find me.✦ With me are riches and glory, splendid wealth and justice.24 My fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my yield better than choice silver.✦ I walk in the ways of justice, along the paths of judgment, so that I may enrich those who love me and fill their treasuries.✦

A Prayer for Divine Guidance

The author provides a model prayer for the king to ask God for the gift of Wisdom.

So then, king: so that Christ may fill your earthly treasuries and grant you eternal ones, cry out from the depths of your heart, cry out with the full intent of your mind, and like Solomon, don't stop pouring out prayers to the Lord; pray continually, pray often, pray urgently, pray to God without ceasing, and say: God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, you who made all things by your word, and by your wisdom established man so that he might rule the creation made by you, so that he might order the world in equity and justice, and judge with an upright heart: Give me Wisdom, who sits as attendant at your thrones, and do not cast me off from among your children, for I am your servant and the son of your handmaid, a frail man of short life, and too small to understand judgment and laws.25 Send her from your holy heavens and from the throne of your greatness, that she may be with me and work with me, so that I may know what is acceptable before you. For she knows all things and understands them, and she will lead me soberly in my works and guard me by her power; my works will be acceptable, I will govern your people justly, and I will be worthy of my father's thrones.26

The Blessedness of the Wise Ruler

The chapter concludes with a promise of eternal life and divine companionship for those who hold fast to wisdom.

Truly, king, blessed is the virtue of wisdom; and whoever finds her is made blessed by her.✦ Wisdom prepares life for her children, serves justice to those who love her, and gives prudence to those who love her: whoever holds her will inherit eternal life; for God loves the one who loves wisdom.27 In temptation she walks with him, and she chooses him first, and she will strengthen him, and she will bring a straight path to him, and she will uncover her hidden things to him, and she stores up knowledge and understanding of prudence upon him.28

Read the original Latin

Uberes Deo gratias agere debemus, qui nos ad coelica regna per regiam jubet pergere viam, ut per recta gradientes itinera, ad coelestem feliciter mereamur pertingere patriam. Ergo non declinemus ad dexteram aut sinistram; firmo solidoque gradu per regiam nobis incedendum est viam, et casto sanctoque timori coelestis et sancta jungenda est sapientia, ut utraque virtute sociata ad immortalem mereamur pertingere vitam. Corona enim, ait Scriptura, sapientiae timor Domini est. Et: Initium sapientiae timere Deum. Et: Plenitudo sapientiae et radix sapientiae, ut dicit Scriptura, timor Domini est. Si ergo timor Domini initium est sapientiae, et plenitudo ejus, et corona ipsius, radixque ejusdem, liquide apparet, quia una de alia pendet, et alteri succedit altera. Et ideo proxime sunt a nobis ponendae, non separate. Congruenter ergo post timorem ponimus sapientiam; quia non in malevolam animam, ut scriptum est, sed in timentem Deum ingreditur sapientia.

Time ergo, clarissime rex, Deum, et animam tuam praepara ad excipiendum sapientiam, ut sicut rex regiam cum sapientia sapienter possis pergere viam: regibus enim liber Sapientiae maxime frequenterque clamitans ait: Ad vos ergo reges sunt hi sermones mei, ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis: qui enim custodierint justa, juste justificabuntur. Clara est, et quae nunquam marcescit sapientia, et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt illam, et invenitur ab his qui quaerunt illam. Audis ergo, clarissime rex, quia specialiter regibus, ex quibus divina largiente gratia, unus es tu, haec superna dirigitur vox; et ut sapienter agant, oraculum divinum frequenter regibus clamitat. Unde et nos vestram clarissimam acclines flagitamus excellentiam, ut sedulus divinam claramque discas sapientiam, et diligenter et assidue requiras illam, et non tepide aut tarde, sed sagaciter vigilanterque investiges illam, et super aurum et argentum concupiscas illam. Sic enim scriptum est de illa: Concupiscentia itaque sapientiae deducit ad regna perpetua. Si ergo delectamini sedibus et stemmatibus, reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis cum ea. Diligite lumen sapientiae, omnes qui praeestis populis.

Oramus ergo te, sanctissime rex, diligenter attende quid de se Salomon, quid de laude sapientiae loquatur. Ait enim: Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius, qui prior factus est, et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro; decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente, et ego natus accepi communem aerem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans. In involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis. Nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium. Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus. Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus: et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiae: et praeposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil duxi in comparatione illius; nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum, quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius arena est exigua, tanquam lutum aestimabitur argentum in conspectu illius. Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius, et laetatus sum in omnibus, quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, etc. Haec enim pretiosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum, luci comparata, invenitur prior; illi enim succedit nox, sapientia autem non vincitur malitia.

Attingit ergo a fine usque ad finem fortiter, et disponit omnia suaviter. Hanc amavi et exquisivi a juventute mea, et quaesivi eam mihi sponsam assumere, et amans factus sum formae illius, generositatem illius glorificat, contubernium habens Dei; sed et omnium Dominus dilexit illam. Sobrietatem enim et prudentiam docet, et justitiam, et virtutem, quibus utilius nihil est in vita hominibus. Propter hanc habebo immortalitatem, et memoriam aeternam his qui post me futuri sunt relinquam: disponam populos, et nationes mihi erunt subditae. Timebunt me audientes reges horrendi, et in multitudine videbor bonus, et in bello fortis.

Animadverte et intellige, o nobilissime et clarissime rex, quia sapientia virtus regia est, quae investigabiliter a regis regum praedivite procedit thesauro, et non negligentibus aut superbis, invidis aut malevolis datur; sed mitibus, humilibus et timentibus Deum conceditur. Vere enim sine dubio sapientia virtus est regia, ad quos specialiter, ut discant sapientiam, sermo propheticus clamitat. Regia namque virtus est sapientia, quia bene operantes reges justificat, et lumen scientiae illis inexstinguibile radiat, oculos cordis illuminat, sensus mentis illustrat, subtilem intellectum ministrat, salutem corporis praestat, honestatem moribus concedit, thesauros infinitos multiplicat, virtutem regni roborat, et participem Dei amicitiae constituit, spiritu sapientiae et intellectus, consilii et fortitudinis, scientiae et pietatis, et timoris Domini replet. Justitiam regibus et prudentiam, fortitudinem et temperantiam donat, virtutem et sobrietatem ministrat, stabiles facit in regno, certos in verbo, dulces in eloquio, hilares in dato, in misericordia humanos, in respondendo suaves, in discernendo sagaces, in prosperitate mites, in adversitate securos, acutos in sensu, in facto placidos, candidos in vultu et fortes in bello. Sapientia regibus concedit sibi subdita discrete disponere regna, et suaviter populos jam sibi facit servire possessos. Exteras etiam gentes fortiter facit debellare minaces, et nationes subjici diras, et reges calcari feroces, et ut ita dicam, in sapientia constat regni dispositio cuncta. Thesaurus etenim magnus est sapientia, quam qui invenerit, inveniet vitam, et qui possederit, immortalitatis habebit coronam. Thesaurus est enim Domini occultus et non omnibus manifestatus.

Sic enim de sapientia vir famosissimus Job testatur, dicens: Sapientia vero ubi invenitur? et quis est locus intelligentiae? nescit homo pretium ejus, nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium. Abyssus dicit: Non est in me; et mare loquitur: Non est mecum. Non dabitur aurum obryzum pro ea, nec appendetur argentum in commutatione ejus. Non aequabitur ei aurum vel vitrum, nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri: excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur comparatione ejus: trahitur autem supientia de occultis, etc. Unde ergo sapientia venit? et quis est locus intelligentiae?

Abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium, volucres coeli quoque latet. Perditio et mors dixerunt: Auribus nostris audivimus famam ejus. Deus intelligit viam ejus, et ipse novit locum illius, etc. Et dixit homini: Ecce timor Domini ipsa est sapientia, et recedere a malo intelligentia.

Grandis enim hic, rex clarissime, ut vides, et investigabilis fama de sapientia sonat; regia sine dubio virtus est, cui non comparatur aurum mundum, vel obryzum, nec adaequabitur argentum clarissimum, nec confertur vitrum perlucidum. In cujus comparatione lapis vilescit sardonychus, pro nihilo ducitur sapphirus, parvipenditur topazius. Aurea non magnifice feruntur vascula, mundissimae non appendentur tincturae, nec aliquid pretiosi et varii aestimabuntur lapilli. Vere, ut vides, regia virtus est sapientia, et a regibus maxime diligenda.

Dilige ergo illam, o clarissime rex, ut diligaris ab illa: taliter enim vox ejus in Proverbiis sonat: Ego diligentes me, inquit, diligo: et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me. Tale tuum bonis actibus regium praepara pectus, ut tuo semper inesse consilio delectetur. Internis te doceat cogitationibus quidquid gerere debes operibus. Suum est enim consilium, et cui vult intimat illud; sua est prudentia, et cui vult porrigit illam; sua est fortitudo, et cui vult tribuit illam; suum est regnum, et cui vult et quantum vult commendat illud. Sua etenim vox per Salomonem in Proverbiis taliter clamitat: Ego sapientia habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus. Meum est consilium et aequitas, mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo. Per me reges regnant, et conditores legum justa decernunt. Per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt justitiam.

Ego diligentes me diligo, et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me. Mecum sunt divitiae et gloria, opes superbae et justitia. Melior est enim fructus meus auro et lapide pretioso, et genimina mea argento electo. In viis justitiae ambulo, in medio semitarum judicii, ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam. Ergo rex, ut terrenos thesauros tibi repleat Christus, et concedat aeternos, clama medullis cordis, clama tota intentione mentis, et cum Salomone non cesses ad Dominum fundere preces; ora jugiter, ora frequenter, ora instanter, ora indesinenter Deum, et dic: Deus patrum meorum et Domine misericordiae, qui fecisti omnia verbo tuo, et sapientia tua constituisti hominem ut dominaretur creaturae quae a te facta est, ut disponat orbem terrarum in aequitate et justitia, et in directione cordis judicium judicet: Da mihi sedium tuarum assistricem Sapientiam, et noli me reprobare a pueris tuis, quoniam servus tuus ego sum, et filius ancillae tuae, homo infirmus et exigui temporis, et minor ad intellectum judicii et legum. Mitte illam de coelis sanctis tuis, et a sede magnitudinis tuae ut mecum sit et mecum laboret, ut sciam quid acceptum sit apud te. Scit enim illa omnia, et intelligit, et deducet me in operibus meis sobrie, et custodiet in sua potentia, et erunt accepta opera mea, et disponam populum tuum juste, et ero dignus sedium patris mei.

Vere, rex, beata est virtus sapientiae; et qui invenit eam, beatus efficitur ab illa. Sapientia filiis suis vitam praeparat, diligentibus se justitiam ministrat, amantibus se prudentiam donat: qui tenuerit illam, vitam haereditabit aeternam; diligit enim Deus illum qui diligit sapientiam. In tentatione ambulat cum eo, et in primis eligit eum, et firmabit illum, et iter adducet directum ad illum, et denudabit absconsa sua illi, et thesaurizat super illum scientiam et intellectum prudentiae.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Deut.5.32;Josh.1.7;Prov.4.27 — Therefore be careful to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left." This makes the discourse consequence explicit. Josh.1.7 — Only be strong and very courageous, to keep and do according to all the Torah that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper in all that you do. Prov.4.27 — Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil.
  2. ↩Prov.1.7 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  3. ↩Isa.11.2-Isa.11.3 — And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Isa.11.3 — And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, nor decide by what his ears hear.
  4. ↩Eph.1.18 — having the eyes of your heart enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
  5. ↩Job.28.12 — But where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?
  6. ↩Job.28.13 — No mortal knows its worth, nor is it found in the land of the living.
  7. ↩Job.28.14 — The deep says, 'It is not in me'; and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
  8. ↩Job.28.15 — It cannot be given in exchange for gold, nor can silver be weighed out as its price.
  9. ↩Job.28.17 — Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for vessels of fine gold.
  10. ↩Job.28.18 — Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned alongside it, and the price of wisdom is above pearls.
  11. ↩Job.28.20 — But wisdom—from where does it come? And where is the place of understanding?
  12. ↩Job.28.20 — But wisdom—from where does it come? And where is the place of understanding?
  13. ↩Job.28.21 — It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, and concealed from the birds of the heavens.
  14. ↩Job.28.22 — Abaddon and Death say, 'With our own ears we have heard the report of it.'
  15. ↩Job.28.23 — God understands its way, and He knows its place.
  16. ↩Job.28.28 — And he said to man: Behold, the fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to turn from evil is understanding.
  17. ↩Prov.8.17 — I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
  18. ↩Prov.8.19 — My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
  19. ↩Prov.8.20-Prov.8.21 — In the way of righteousness I walk, in the midst of the paths of justice. Prov.8.21 — That I may endow those who love me with substance, and fill their treasuries.
  20. ↩Prov.3.13 — Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Rendered casto sanctoque timori as 'pure and holy fear' (dative) and coelestis et sancta ... sapientia as 'heavenly and holy wisdom' (nominative subject of jungenda est).
  2. 2 ↩proxime ... ponendae rendered as 'set next to each other'; separate as 'kept apart.' The feminine plural refers to fear and wisdom from the preceding sentences.
  3. 3 ↩stemmatibus can mean genealogical lines/pedigrees or chaplets/crowns; rendered as 'royal lineages' from the given Latin (not emended to Vulgate sceptris).
  4. 4 ↩delectamento somni conveniente follows the Vulgate Wisdom phrasing for conception; rendered as the pleasure that comes with sleep.
  5. 5 ↩curis magnis can mean great cares/troubles or careful tending; context of infant nurture favors great care.
  6. 6 ↩sensus rendered as understanding (practical insight), not mere sensation.
  7. 7 ↩honestas in this Wisdom context is taken as riches/wealth rather than mere moral honor.
  8. 8 ↩Source ends with etc.; preserved as a deliberate truncation (and so on).
  9. 9 ↩dispositionem stellarum rendered as ordering of the stars (celestial arrangement).
  10. 10 ↩generositatem illius glorificat, contubernium habens Dei is read as in Wisdom 8:3: companionship with God glorifies her nobility (subject: contubernium...Dei; object: generositatem).
  11. 11 ↩virtutem rendered as fortitude to complete the four cardinal virtues with sobriety (temperance), prudence, and justice; general 'virtue' is also possible.
  12. 12 ↩investigabiliter rendered as 'in ways beyond searching' (unsearchably / beyond full investigation); praedivite thesauro as 'overflowing treasury'.
  13. 13 ↩ad quos specialiter: the relative likely points to kings (those of the 'royal virtue'); rendered as 'those for whom it is meant' to keep the address open without inventing an explicit noun not in the clause.
  14. 14 ↩justificat: rendered 'makes just' (makes righteous / establishes in justice) of kings who act well, not forensic justification in a later technical sense.
  15. 15 ↩discrete = with discretion / good judgment; suaviter = gently, willingly, without harshness; possessos = the peoples already held/possessed under their rule.
  16. 16 ↩suaviter viventium: literally 'those who live pleasantly/softly'; rendered as 'those who live at ease' for the biblical sense of the prosperous, comfortable world.
  17. 17 ↩aurum obryzum: refined/pure gold (obryzum); rendered 'pure gold' rather than a technical metallurgical term.
  18. 18 ↩Source has 'supientia'; almost certainly a misspelling of 'sapientia'. Translated as 'wisdom'.
  19. 19 ↩vitrum: glass/crystal; 'crystal' preferred for biblical treasure-catalog register. 'etc.' retained as the source's truncation of the longer Job passage.
  20. 20 ↩Perditio renders the personified counterpart of Death (Vulgate Job's Perditio/Abaddon). 'Destruction' keeps the personified pair without importing the Hebrew proper name.
  21. 21 ↩Source ends with etc., marking an abridged Job citation; rendered as 'and so on' to preserve the cut without inventing omitted lines.
  22. 22 ↩obryzum (obrizum) is pure, highly refined gold; rendered as "refined gold" to distinguish it from aurum mundum ("pure gold").
  23. 23 ↩appendentur evokes weighing in exchange (as in Job's balance imagery); feruntur with magnifice is taken as being proudly displayed or prized, not mere physical carrying.
  24. 24 ↩opes superbae can mean proud/magnificent riches; rendered as 'splendid wealth' to keep the royal-splendor sense without sounding merely vain.
  25. 25 ↩sedium tuarum assistricem Sapientiam: Wisdom as the one who sits as assessor/attendant at God's thrones (Wisdom 9). 'Attendant at your thrones' preserves the court-image without inventing a weaker paraphrase.
  26. 26 ↩custodiet lacks an explicit object; from context the likely object is me (she will guard me by her power), as in the surrounding Wisdom prayer.
  27. 27 ↩Latin pairs diligentibus se and amantibus se; both rendered 'love' per dilectio/amor policy, without forcing a false English distinction.
  28. 28 ↩in primis could mean 'first/at the outset' or 'among the foremost'; rendered 'first' as the natural Sirach-style sense in context.

Via Regia (The Royal Road) companion

Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat

Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.

Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.

  • A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
  • One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
  • Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit
Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app) →