Wisdom 6

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man.	1 Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
2 Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand: learn, ye that are judges of the ends of the earth.	2 hear this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject nations!
3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:	3 For sovereignty is given to you by the Lord and power by the Most High, who will himself probe youracts and scrutinise your intentions.
4 For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts:	4 If therefore, as servants of his kingdom, you have not ruled justly nor observed the law, nor fol owed thewil of God,
5 Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God.	5 he wil fal on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly placed a ruthless judgement falls;
6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.	6 the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty wil be mightily tormented.
7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented.	7 For the Lord of al does not cower before anyone, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since hehimself has made small and great and provides for al alike;
8 For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.	8 but a searching trial awaits those who wield power.
9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.	9 So, monarchs, my words are meant for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not fal into error;
10 To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it.	10 for those who in holiness observe holy things will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction fromthem, wil find their defence in them.
11 For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.	11 Set your heart, therefore, on what I have to say, listen with a wil , and you wil be instructed.
12 Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction.	12 Wisdom is bril iant, she never fades. By those who love her, she is readily seen, by those who seekher, she is readily found.
13 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.	13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.
14 She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them.	14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but wil find her sitting at the door.
15 He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door.	15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon befree from care.
16 To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.	16 For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.
17 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence.	17 For Wisdom begins with the sincere desire for instruction, care for instruction means loving her,
18 For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.	18 loving her means keeping her laws, attention to her laws guarantees incorruptibility,
19 And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption:	19 and incorruptibility brings us near to God;
20 And incorruption bringeth near to God.	20 the desire for Wisdom thus leads to sovereignty.
21 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom.	21 If then thrones and sceptres delight you, monarchs of the nations, honour Wisdom, so that you mayreign for ever.
22 If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.	22 What Wisdom is and how she was born, I shal now explain; I shal hide no mysteries from you, butshall fol ow her steps from the outset of her origin, setting out what we know of her in ful light, without departingfrom the truth.
23 Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.	23 Blighting envy is no companion for me, for envy has nothing in common with Wisdom.
24 Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth:	24 In the greatest number of the wise lies the world's salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of apeople.
25 Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.	25 Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.
26 Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.
27 Receive therefore instruction by my words, and it shall be profitable to you.