Wisdom 6

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