Wisdom 6

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;	1 Wisdom is better than power, and a prudent man is better than a powerful one.
2 hear this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject nations!	2 Therefore, hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you 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 Listen closely, you who hold the attention of the crowds, and who please yourselves by disturbing the 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 has been given to you from the Lord and strength from the Most High, who will examine your works and scrutinize your thoughts.
5 he wil fal on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly placed a ruthless judgement falls;	5 For, when you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge correctly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk according to the will of God.
6 the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty wil be mightily tormented.	6 Horribly and quickly he will appear to you, because he will make a severe judgment for those who are in charge.
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 the little, great mercy is granted, but the powerful will endure powerful torment.
8 but a searching trial awaits those who wield power.	8 For the Lord will not exempt anyone’s character, nor will he stand in awe of anyone’s greatness, because he himself made the little and the great, and he is equally concerned for everyone.
9 So, monarchs, my words are meant for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not fal into error;	9 But a powerful torture pursues the powerful.
10 for those who in holiness observe holy things will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction fromthem, wil find their defence in them.	10 Therefore, O kings, these, my words, are for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not perish.
11 Set your heart, therefore, on what I have to say, listen with a wil , and you wil be instructed.	11 For those who have justly preserved justice will be justified, and those who have learned these things will 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 Therefore, desire my words, love them, and you will have instruction.
13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.	13 Wisdom is pure and never fades away, and is easily seen by those who love her and found by those who seek her.
14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but wil find her sitting at the door.	14 She anticipates those who desire her, so that she first reveals herself to them.
15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon befree from care.	15 Whoever awakens early to seek her, will not labor, for he will 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 Therefore, by thinking about her, understanding is perfected, and whoever remains watchful for her, will quickly be secure.
17 For Wisdom begins with the sincere desire for instruction, care for instruction means loving her,	17 For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she reveals herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all foresight.
18 loving her means keeping her laws, attention to her laws guarantees incorruptibility,	18 For the very true beginning of her is the desire for instruction.
19 and incorruptibility brings us near to God;	19 Therefore, the zeal for instruction is love, and love is the keeping of her laws, and the keeping of her laws is the perfection of incorruptibility,
20 the desire for Wisdom thus leads to sovereignty.	20 while incorruptibility makes us near to God.
21 If then thrones and sceptres delight you, monarchs of the nations, honour Wisdom, so that you mayreign for ever.	21 And so, the desire for wisdom leads to an 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, therefore, your delight is in thrones and scepters, O kings of the people, love wisdom, so that you may reign forever;
23 Blighting envy is no companion for me, for envy has nothing in common with Wisdom.	23 love the light of wisdom, all you who lead the peoples.
24 In the greatest number of the wise lies the world's salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of apeople.	24 But what wisdom is, and how she was made, I will report, and I will not hide the mysteries of God from you, but I will investigate her from the beginning of her birth, and I will place the knowledge of her in the light, and will not pass over the truth.
25 Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.	25 Neither will I hold to the path that dwindles away with envy, because such a man will not partake in wisdom.
	26 For the proliferation of the wise is sanity for the world, and a wise king is the mainstay of the people.
	27 Therefore, receive instruction by my words, and it will benefit you.