6 but all men have one entrance into life, and a common departure.
7 For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given to me.
I asked, and a spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones.
I considered riches nothing in comparison to her.
9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
because all gold in her presence is a little sand,
and silver will be considered as clay before her.
10 I loved her more than health and beauty,
and I chose to have her rather than light,
because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.
11 All good things came to me with her,
and innumerable riches are in her hands.
12 And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leads them;
although I didn’t know that she was their mother.
13 As I learnt without guile, I impart without grudging.
I don’t hide her riches.
14 For she is a treasure for men that doesn’t fail,
and those who use it obtain friendship with God,
commended by the gifts which they present through discipline.
15 But may God grant that I may speak his judgement,
and to conceive thoughts worthy of what has been given me;
because he is one who guides even wisdom and who corrects the wise.
16 For both we and our words are in his hand,
with all understanding and skill in various crafts.
17 For he himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are,
to know the structure of the universe and the operation of the elements;
18 the beginning, end, and middle of times;
the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons;
19 the circuits of years and the positions of stars;
20 the natures of living creatures and the raging of wild beasts;
the violence of‡ winds and the thoughts of men;
the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots.
21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learnt,
22 for wisdom, that is the architect of all things, taught me.
For there is in her a spirit that is quick to understand, holy,
unique, manifold, subtle, freely moving, clear in utterance, unpolluted,
distinct, invulnerable, loving what is good, keen, unhindered,
23 beneficent, loving towards man, steadfast, sure, free from care, all-powerful, all-surveying,
and penetrating through all spirits that are quick to understand, pure, most subtle.
24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion.
Yes, she pervades and penetrates all things by reason of her purity.
25 For she is a breath of the power of God,
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty.
Therefore nothing defiled can find entrance into her.
26 For she is a reflection of everlasting light,
an unspotted mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
27 Although she is one, she has power to do all things.
Remaining in herself, she renews all things.
From generation to generation passing into holy souls,
she makes friends of God and prophets.
28 For God loves nothing as much as one who dwells with wisdom.
29 For she is fairer than the sun,
and above all the constellations of the stars.
She is better than light.
30 For daylight yields to night,
but evil does not prevail against wisdom.
8
1 But she reaches from one end to the other with full strength,
and orders all things well.
2 I loved her and sought her from my youth.
I sought to take her for my bride.
I became enamoured by her beauty.
3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God.
The Sovereign Lord of all loves her.
4 For she is initiated into the knowledge of God,
and she chooses his works.
5 But if riches are a desired possession in life,
what is richer than wisdom, which makes all things?
6 And if understanding is effective,
who more than† wisdom is an architect of the things that exist?
7 If a man loves righteousness,
the fruits of wisdom’s labour‡ are virtues,
for she teaches soberness, understanding, righteousness, and courage.
There is nothing in life more profitable for people than these.
8 And if anyone longs for wide experience,
she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come.
She understands subtleties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings.
She foresees signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.
9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she is one who would give me good counsel,
and encourage me in cares and grief.
10 Because of her, I will have glory amongst multitudes,
and honour in the sight of elders, though I am young.
11 I will be found keen when I give judgement.
I will be admired in the presence of rulers.
12 When I am silent, they will wait for me.
When I open my lips, they will heed what I say.
If I continue speaking, they will put their hands on their mouths.
13 Because of her, I will have immortality,
and leave behind an eternal memory to those who come after me.
14 I will govern peoples.
Nations will be subjected to me.
15 Dreaded monarchs will fear me when they hear of me.
Amongst the people, I will show myself to be good, and courageous in war.
16 When I come into my house, I will find rest with her.
For conversation with her has no bitterness,
and living with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.
17 When I considered these things in myself,
and thought in my heart how immortality is in kinship to wisdom,
18 and in her friendship is good delight,
and in the labours of her hands is wealth that doesn’t fail,
and understanding is in her companionship,
and great renown in having fellowship with her words,
I went about seeking how to take her to myself.
19 Now I was a clever child, and received a good soul.
20 Or rather, being good, I came into an undefiled body.
21 But perceiving that I could not otherwise possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—
yes, and to know and understand by whom the grace is given—
I pleaded with the Lord and implored him, and with my whole heart I said:
9
1 “O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
who made all things by your word;
2 and by your wisdom you formed man,
that he should have dominion over the creatures that were made by you,
3 and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and execute judgement in uprightness of soul,
4 give me wisdom, her who sits by you on your thrones.
Don’t reject me from amongst your† servants,
5 because I am your servant and the son of your handmaid,
a weak and short-lived man,
with little power to understand judgement and laws.
6 For even if a man is perfect amongst the sons of men,
if the wisdom that comes from you is not with him, he will count for nothing.
7 You chose me to be king of your people,
and a judge for your sons and daughters.
8 You gave a command to build a sanctuary on your holy mountain,
and‡ an altar in the city where you live,
a copy of the holy tent which you prepared from the beginning.
9 Wisdom is with you and knows your works,
and was present when you were making the world,
and understands what is pleasing in your eyes,
and what is right according to your commandments.
10 Send her from the holy heavens,
and ask her to come from the throne of your glory,
that being present with me she may work,
and I may learn what pleases you well.
11 For she knows all things and understands,
and she will guide me prudently in my actions.
She will guard me in her glory.
12 So my works will be acceptible.
I will judge your people righteously,
and I will be worthy of my father’s§ throne.
13 For what man will know the counsel of God?
Or who will conceive what the Lord wills?
14 For the thoughts of mortals are unstable,
and our plans are prone to fail.
15 For a corruptible body weighs down the soul.
The earthy tent burdens a mind that is full of cares.
16 We can hardly guess the things that are on earth,
and we find the things that are close at hand with labour;
but who has traced out the things that are in the heavens?
17 Who gained knowledge of your counsel, unless you gave wisdom,
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
18 It was thus that the ways of those who are on earth were corrected,
and men were taught the things that are pleasing to you.
They were saved through wisdom.”
10
1 Wisdom† guarded to the end the first formed father of the world, who was created alone,
and delivered him out of his own transgression,
2 and gave him strength to rule over all things.
3 But when an unrighteous man fell away from her in his anger,
he perished himself in the rage with which he killed his brother.
4 When for his cause the earth was drowning with a flood,
wisdom again saved it,
guiding the righteous man’s course by a paltry piece of wood.
5 Moreover, when nations consenting together in wickedness had been confounded,
wisdom‡ knew the righteous man, and preserved him blameless to God,
and kept him strong when his heart yearned towards his child.
6 While the ungodly were perishing, wisdom§ delivered a righteous man,
when he fled from the fire that descended out of heaven on the five cities.
7 To whose wickedness a smoking waste still witnesses,
and plants bearing fair fruit that doesn’t ripen,
a disbelieving soul has a memorial: a standing pillar of salt.
8 For having passed wisdom by,
not only were they disabled from recognising the things which are good,
but they also left behind them for their life a monument of their folly,
to the end that where they stumbled, they might fail even to be unseen;
9 but wisdom delivered those who waited on her out of troubles.
10 When a righteous man was a fugitive from a brother’s wrath,† wisdom guided him in straight paths.
She showed him God’s kingdom, and gave him knowledge of holy things.
She prospered him in his toils, and multiplied the fruits of his labour.
11 When in their covetousness
