Sunday, December 8, 2019



O virtus Sapientie

Antiphon for Divine Wisdom (R 466rb) by Hildegard of Bingen

O virtus Sapientie,
que circuiens circuisti,
comprehendendo omnia
in una via que habet vitam,
tres alas habens,
quarum una in altum volat
et altera de terra sudat
et tercia undique volat.
Laus tibi sit, sicut te decet, O Sapientia.
                                    O Wisdom’s energy!
                                   Whirling, you encircle
                                    and everything embrace
                                    in the single way of life.
                                      Three wings you have:
                                   one soars above into the heights,
                                       one from the earth exudes,
                                       and all about now flies the third.
                                      Praise be to you, as is your due, O Wisdom.

Latin collated from the transcription of Beverly Lomer and the edition of Barbara Newman; translation by Nathaniel M. Campbell.



Strength of Wisdom
who, circling, circled,
enclosing all
the one that has in one of the way of life,
three wings;
one soars
moisture from the earth, and the other
On the third reading is everywhere.
All praise to you, as is fitting, O Wisdom.