Wisdom 6

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse!	1 Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
2 Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples!	2 hear this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject nations!
3 Because authority was given you by the LORD and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels!	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 Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God,	4 If therefore, as servants of his kingdom, you have not ruled justly nor observed the law, nor fol owed thewil of God,
5 Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted-	5 he wil fal on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly placed a ruthless judgement falls;
6 For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.	6 the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty wil be mightily tormented.
7 For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike;	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 but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.	8 but a searching trial awaits those who wield power.
9 To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.	9 So, monarchs, my words are meant for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not fal into error;
10 For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response.	10 for those who in holiness observe holy things will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction fromthem, wil find their defence in them.
11 Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed.	11 Set your heart, therefore, on what I have to say, listen with a wil , and you wil be instructed.
12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.	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 She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men's desire;	13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.
14 he who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate.	14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but wil find her sitting at the door.
15 For taking thought of her is the perfection of prudence, and he who for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care;	15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon befree from care.
16 Because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude.	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 the first step toward discipline is a very earnest desire for her; then, care for discipline is love of her;	17 For Wisdom begins with the sincere desire for instruction, care for instruction means loving her,
18 love means the keeping of her laws; To observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility;	18 loving her means keeping her laws, attention to her laws guarantees incorruptibility,
19 and incorruptibility makes one close to God;	19 and incorruptibility brings us near to God;
20 thus the desire for Wisdom leads up to a kingdom.	20 the desire for Wisdom thus leads to sovereignty.
21 If, then, you find pleasure in throne and scepter, you princes of the peoples, honor Wisdom, that you may reign as kings forever.	21 If then thrones and sceptres delight you, monarchs of the nations, honour Wisdom, so that you mayreign for ever.
22 Now what wisdom is, and how she came to be I shall relate; and I shall hide no secrets from you, But from the very beginning I shall search out and bring to light knowledge of her, nor shall I diverge from the truth.	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 Neither shall I admit consuming jealousy to my company, because that can have no fellowship with Wisdom.	23 Blighting envy is no companion for me, for envy has nothing in common with Wisdom.
24 A great number of wise men is the safety of the world, and a prudent king, the stability of his people;	24 In the greatest number of the wise lies the world's salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of apeople.
25 so take instruction from my words, to your profit.	25 Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.