Wisdom 8

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Thus, she reaches mightily from one end all the way to the other, and she orders all things sweetly.	1 She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.
2 I have loved her and searched for her from my youth, and have asked to take her to me as my spouse, and I became a lover of her form.	2 Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.
3 She glorifies her lineage by having companionship with God; yes and of all things, the Lord loves her.	3 She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea and the Lord of all things hath loved her.
4 For she teaches the teaching of God and is the chooser of his works.	4 For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of his works.
5 And if riches are longed for in life, what is richer than wisdom, which is being served in all things?	5 And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?
6 But if the mind is to be served, who, of all that exists, is a greater artisan than she?	6 And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?
7 And if anyone loves justice, her labors hold great virtues; for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice and virtue, and nothing is more useful in human life.	7 And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, anad justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
8 And if one desires a multitude of knowledge, she knows the past and forecasts the future; she knows the subtleties of conversation and the response to arguments; she understands the signs and portents, before the events take place, events both of the present time and of future ages.	8 And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
9 Therefore, I resolved to take her to me to live together, knowing that she will be a good counselor and will console my thoughts and my weariness.	9 I purposed therefore to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.
10 Because of her, I have clarity in the midst of confusion, and honor among the elders in my youth;	10 For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:
11 and I will be found to be astute in judgment, and will be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of leaders will wonder at me.	11 And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
12 When I am silent, they will wait for me; when I speak, they will respect me; and when I talk for too long, they will put their hands on their mouths.	12 They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak, and if I talk much they shall lay their hands on their mouths.
13 Thus, by means of her, I will have immortality, and I will bequeath an everlasting memorial to those who come after me.	13 Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.
14 I will set the peoples in order, and nations will be subject to me.	14 I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.
15 Hearing me, terrible kings will be afraid; to the multitude, I will be seen as good and valiant in war.	15 Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.
16 When I go into my house, I will repose myself with her, for her conversation has no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but only joy and gladness.	16 When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.
17 Thinking these things within myself, and recalling in my heart that immortality is the intention of wisdom,	17 Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,
18 and that in her friendship is good enjoyment, and in the works of her hands are honors without flaw, and in debate with her is understanding, and glory in sharing conversation with her; I went about seeking, so that I might take her to myself.	18 And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.
19 For I was an ingenious boy and had been dealt a good soul.	19 And I was a witty child and had received a good soul.
20 Even more so, being good, I came to have an undefiled body.	20 And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
21 And since I know that it is not possible to be chaste except as a gift from God, and that it is a point of wisdom to know whose gift it is, I approached the Lord, and I besought him, and I said with my whole heart:	21 And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was: I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart: