Wisdom 9

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 'God of our ancestors, Lord of mercy, who by your word have made the universe,	1 O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,
2 and in your wisdom have fitted human beings to rule the creatures that you have made,	2 And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,
3 to govern the world in holiness and saving justice and in honesty of soul to dispense fair judgement,	3 And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:
4 grant me Wisdom, consort of your throne, and do not reject me from the number of your children.	4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:
5 For I am your servant, son of your serving maid, a feeble man, with little time to live, with smalunderstanding of justice and the laws.	5 For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.
6 Indeed, were anyone perfect among the sons of men, if he lacked the Wisdom that comes from you, hewould still count for nothing.	6 For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.
7 'You have chosen me to be king over your people, to be judge of your sons and daughters.	7 Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:
8 You have bidden me build a temple on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city where you havepitched your tent, a copy of the holy Tent which you prepared at the beginning.	8 Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.
9 With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works, she who was present when you made the world; sheunderstands what is pleasing in your eyes and what agrees with your commandments.	9 And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.
10 Despatch her from the holy heavens, send her forth from your throne of glory to help me and to toilwith me and teach me what is pleasing to you;	10 O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.
11 since she knows and understands everything she wil guide me prudently in my actions and wil protectme with her glory.	11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.
12 Then al I do wil be acceptable, I shal govern your people justly and be worthy of my father's throne.	12 So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.
13 'What human being indeed can know the intentions of God? And who can comprehend the wil of theLord?	13 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?
14 For the reasoning of mortals is inadequate, our attitudes of mind unstable;	14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.
15 for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the mind with its many cares.	15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.
16 It is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth, laborious to know what lies within our reach; who,then, can discover what is in the heavens?	16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?
17 And who could ever have known your will, had you not given Wisdom and sent your holy Spirit fromabove?	17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?
18 Thus have the paths of those on earth been straightened and people have been taught what pleasesyou, and have been saved, by Wisdom.'	18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom.