Wisdom 7

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Certainly, I myself am also a mortal man, like everyone, and the offspring of this earth, which was made beforehand; and in my mother’s womb I was fashioned with care,
2 where, for ten months, in blood I acquired substance -- the result of virile seed and pleasure, sleep'scompanion.	2 within the time of ten months, made of blood, from the seed of man and the delight of sleeping together.
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 when I was born, I drew in the common air, and in similar fashion, I fell upon the earth, and the first voice I uttered, like everyone, was crying.
4 I was nurtured in swaddling clothes, with every care.	4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes and with great care.
5 No king has known any other beginning of existence;	5 For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.
6 for there is only one way into life, and one way out of it.	6 Therefore, there is only one entrance for everyone into life, and the same in leaving.
7 And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.	7 Because of this, I chose, and understanding was given to me; and I prayed, 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 and I placed her before kingdoms and thrones, and I considered 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 Neither did I compare to her a precious stone, for all gold in comparison with her is like a little sand, and silver, in view of her, will be valued as if dirt.
10 I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps.	10 I loved her above health and beauty, and I placed having her before light, for her light is unfailing.
11 In her company al good things came to me, and at her hands incalculable wealth.	11 Yet all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable honors by her hand;
12 All these delighted me, since Wisdom brings them, though I did not then realise that she was theirmother.	12 and I rejoiced in all these, because this wisdom went before me, although I did not know that she is the mother of them all.
13 What I learned diligently, I shal pass on liberally, I shal not conceal how rich she is.	13 This I have learned without falsehood and communicate without envy, and her integrity I do not hide.
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 Indeed, she is an infinite treasure chest for men, and those who make use of it, become partakers in the friendship of God, because they are recommended by the gifts of instruction.
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 Yet God has given to me to speak my mind, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given to me, because he is the leader of wisdom and the repairer of understanding.
16 for we are in his hand, yes, ourselves and our sayings, and al intellectual and al practical knowledge.	16 For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the works of science, and instruction.
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 has given me true knowledge of these things which exist: so as to know the orderly arrangement of the world, and the powers of the 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 the seasons, the characteristics of changing things, and the divisions of time,
19 the cycles of the year and the position of the stars,	19 the courses of the years, and the orderly arrangement 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 the natures of animals, and the rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and the reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the benefits of roots,
21 And now I understand everything, hidden or visible, for Wisdom, the designer of all things, hasinstructed me.	21 and all such things as are hidden and unexpected, I have learned; for wisdom, the artisan of all things, taught me.
22 For within her is a spirit intel igent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, incisive, unsul ied, lucid,invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd,	22 For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, singular, manifold, subtle, perceptive, lively, chaste, reliable, gracious, loving, good, astute, who forbids nothing beneficial,
23 irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, al -surveying, penetrating al intel igent, pure and most subtle spirits.	23 humane, kind, steadfast, trustworthy, secure, having all virtue, watching for all things and grasping all things with a pure and most delicate understanding of spirit.
24 For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates allthings.	24 For wisdom is more active than all active things, yet she reaches everywhere because 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 a breath of the virtue of God and a genuine emanation from the purity of the almighty God, and therefore nothing unclean can invade her.
26 For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power, and image of hisgoodness.	26 Indeed, she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of the majesty of God, and 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 though she is one, she can do all things; and, unchanging in herself, she renews all things, and throughout the nations she conveys herself to holy souls, establishing them as friends and prophets of God.
28 for God loves only those who dwel with Wisdom.	28 For God loves none but those who dwell 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 more spectacular than the sun, and above the array of all the stars; compared with the light, she is found to be before it.
30 for light must yield to night, but against Wisdom evil cannot prevail.	30 Indeed, after her comes night, but wisdom will not be overcome by malice.