Wisdom 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,	1 I too am a mortal man, the same as all the rest, and a descendant of the first man formed on earth. And in my mother's womb I was molded into flesh
2 And in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.	2 in a ten-months' period-body and blood, from the seed of man, and the pleasure that accompanies marriage.
3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.	3 And I too, when born, inhaled the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; wailing, I uttered that first sound common to all.
4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.	4 In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured.
5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.	5 For no king has any different origin or birth,
6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.	6 but one is the entry into life for all; and in one same way they leave it.
7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.	7 Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.	8 I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
9 Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.	9 nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.	10 Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.	11 Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands;
12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.	12 And I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these.
13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.	13 Simply I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share- her riches I do not hide away;
14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.	14 For to men she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, to whom the gifts they have from discipline commend them.
15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.	15 Now God grant I speak suitably and value these endowments at their worth: For he is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise.
16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.	16 For both we and our words are in his hand, as well as all prudence and knowledge of crafts.
17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:	17 For he gave me sound knowledge of existing things, that I might know the organization of the universe and the force of its elements,
18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:	18 The beginning and the end and the midpoint of times, the changes in the sun's course and the variations of the seasons.
19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:	19 Cycles of years, positions of the stars,
20 The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:	20 natures of animals, tempers of beasts, Powers of the winds and thoughts of men, uses of plants and virtues of roots-
21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.	21 Such things as are hidden I learned and such as are plain;
22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,	22 for Wisdom, the artificer of all, taught me. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent,
23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.	23 kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.	24 For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.	25 For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.	26 For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness.
27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.	27 And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.
28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.	28 For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.	29 For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence;
30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.	30 for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.