Initium sapientiae timor Domin intellectus

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Anonymous

Guest

I would appreciate some assistance in translating the following into English: "Initium sapientiae timor Domin intellectus" This was at the bottom of a co-worker's email message and I am curious to know what it says. Thanks in advance for your assistance! :hi:
 
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SaepePecca

New Member

Hmm.. maybe a couple mistakes here or I'm misreading it. Domin (meaning God/lord) is not inflected so I wasn't sure where to stick it... being lazy, I'll just toss it out! :badgrin:

Then it says: "A fear recognized/understood is the beginning of wisdom."
 
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Iynx

Consularis

  • Consularis
Location:
T2R6WELS, Maine, USA
This is a fragment of Psalm 111, verse 10. SP is right that the "Domin" should be inflected. In the Vulgate the first sentence in the verse is:

Initium sapientiae timor Domini.

Or in the King James' "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".

The remaining word, Intellectus, begins the next sentence:

Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus eum: laudatio ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.

Again I will quote the KJV rather than offering my own translation:

"A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever".

A literal translation of your words (isolated from the psalm) might be:

"The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. An understanding..."

Hope this helps.
 
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