Wisdom 9

¹ God of my fathers, LORD of mercy. you who have made all things by your word

² And in your wisdom have established man to rule the creatures produced by you,

³ To govern the world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in integrity of heart:

⁴ Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, and reject me not from among your children;

⁵ For I am your servant, the son of your handmaid, a man weak and short-lived and lacking in comprehension of judgment and of laws.

⁶ Indeed, though one be perfect among the sons of men, if Wisdom, who comes from you, be not with him, he shall be held in no esteem.

⁷ You have chosen me king over your people and magistrate for your sons and daughters.

⁸ You have bid me build a temple on your holy mountain and an altar in the city that is your dwelling place, a copy of the holy tabernacle which you had established from of old.

⁹ Now with you is Wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you made the world; Who understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what is conformable with your commands.

¹⁰ Send her forth from your holy heavens and from your glorious throne dispatch her That she may be with me and work with me, that I may know what is your pleasure.

¹¹ For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory;

¹² Thus my deeds will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly and be worthy of my father's throne.

¹³ For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what our LORD intends?

¹⁴ For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans.

¹⁵ For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.

¹⁶ And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?

¹⁷ Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?

¹⁸ And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom.