Wisdom 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I too am mortal like everyone else, a descendant of the first man formed from the earth. I was model edin flesh inside a mother's womb,	1 I too am a mortal man, the same as all the rest, and a descendant of the first man formed on earth. And in my mother's womb I was molded into flesh
2 where, for ten months, in blood I acquired substance -- the result of virile seed and pleasure, sleep'scompanion.	2 in a ten-months' period-body and blood, from the seed of man, and the pleasure that accompanies marriage.
3 I too, when I was born, drew in the common air, I fel on the same ground that bears us al , and cryingwas the first sound I made, like everyone else.	3 And I too, when born, inhaled the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; wailing, I uttered that first sound common to all.
4 I was nurtured in swaddling clothes, with every care.	4 In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured.
5 No king has known any other beginning of existence;	5 For no king has any different origin or birth,
6 for there is only one way into life, and one way out of it.	6 but one is the entry into life for all; and in one same way they leave it.
7 And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.	7 Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
8 I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.	8 I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
9 I reckoned no precious stone to be her equal, for compared with her, al gold is a pinch of sand, andbeside her, silver ranks as mud.	9 nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
10 I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps.	10 Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
11 In her company al good things came to me, and at her hands incalculable wealth.	11 Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands;
12 All these delighted me, since Wisdom brings them, though I did not then realise that she was theirmother.	12 And I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these.
13 What I learned diligently, I shal pass on liberally, I shal not conceal how rich she is.	13 Simply I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share- her riches I do not hide away;
14 For she is to human beings an inexhaustible treasure, and those who acquire this win God'sfriendship, commended to him by the gifts of instruction.	14 For to men she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, to whom the gifts they have from discipline commend them.
15 May God grant me to speak as he would wish and conceive thoughts worthy of the gifts I havereceived, since he is both guide to Wisdom and director of sages;	15 Now God grant I speak suitably and value these endowments at their worth: For he is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise.
16 for we are in his hand, yes, ourselves and our sayings, and al intellectual and al practical knowledge.	16 For both we and our words are in his hand, as well as all prudence and knowledge of crafts.
17 He it was who gave me sure knowledge of what exists, to understand the structure of the world andthe action of the elements,	17 For he gave me sound knowledge of existing things, that I might know the organization of the universe and the force of its elements,
18 the beginning, end and middle of the times, the alternation of the solstices and the succession of theseasons,	18 The beginning and the end and the midpoint of times, the changes in the sun's course and the variations of the seasons.
19 the cycles of the year and the position of the stars,	19 Cycles of years, positions of the stars,
20 the natures of animals and the instincts of wild beasts, the powers of spirits and human mentalprocesses, the varieties of plants and the medical properties of roots.	20 natures of animals, tempers of beasts, Powers of the winds and thoughts of men, uses of plants and virtues of roots-
21 And now I understand everything, hidden or visible, for Wisdom, the designer of all things, hasinstructed me.	21 Such things as are hidden I learned and such as are plain;
22 For within her is a spirit intel igent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, incisive, unsul ied, lucid,invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd,	22 for Wisdom, the artificer of all, taught me. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent,
23 irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, al -surveying, penetrating al intel igent, pure and most subtle spirits.	23 kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
24 For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates allthings.	24 For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
25 She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; so nothing impurecan find its way into her.	25 For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
26 For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power, and image of hisgoodness.	26 For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness.
27 Although she is alone, she can do everything; herself unchanging, she renews the world, and,generation after generation, passing into holy souls, she makes them into God's friends and prophets;	27 And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.
28 for God loves only those who dwel with Wisdom.	28 For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
29 She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines al the constel ations; compared with light,she takes first place,	29 For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence;
30 for light must yield to night, but against Wisdom evil cannot prevail.	30 for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.