Wisdom 6

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;	1 Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man.
2 hear this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject nations!	2 Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand: learn, ye that are judges of the ends of the earth.
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.	3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:
4 If therefore, as servants of his kingdom, you have not ruled justly nor observed the law, nor fol owed thewil of God,	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:
5 he wil fal on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly placed a ruthless judgement falls;	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.
6 the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty wil be mightily tormented.	6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.
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;	7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented.
8 but a searching trial awaits those who wield power.	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.
9 So, monarchs, my words are meant for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not fal into error;	9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.
10 for those who in holiness observe holy things will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction fromthem, wil find their defence in them.	10 To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it.
11 Set your heart, therefore, on what I have to say, listen with a wil , and you wil be instructed.	11 For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.
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.	12 Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction.
13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.	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.
14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but wil find her sitting at the door.	14 She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them.
15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon befree from care.	15 He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door.
16 For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.	16 To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.
17 For Wisdom begins with the sincere desire for instruction, care for instruction means loving her,	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.
18 loving her means keeping her laws, attention to her laws guarantees incorruptibility,	18 For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.
19 and incorruptibility brings us near to God;	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:
20 the desire for Wisdom thus leads to sovereignty.	20 And incorruption bringeth near to God.
21 If then thrones and sceptres delight you, monarchs of the nations, honour Wisdom, so that you mayreign for ever.	21 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom.
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.	22 If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.
23 Blighting envy is no companion for me, for envy has nothing in common with Wisdom.	23 Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.
24 In the greatest number of the wise lies the world's salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of apeople.	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:
25 Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.	25 Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.
	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.