Wisdom 9

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 'God of our ancestors, Lord of mercy, who by your word have made the universe,	1 “God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, who has made all things with your word,
2 and in your wisdom have fitted human beings to rule the creatures that you have made,	2 and by your wisdom has established man to have dominion over the creatures which have been made by you,
3 to govern the world in holiness and saving justice and in honesty of soul to dispense fair judgement,	3 so that he would order the world in equity and justice, 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, the handmaiden at your throne, and be unwilling to reject me from among your 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 because I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid, a weak man, and short-lived, with limited 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 And if someone were perfect among the sons of men, yet if your wisdom was taken away from him, he would be counted as nothing.
7 'You have chosen me to be king over your people, to be judge of your sons and daughters.	7 You have chosen me to be a king of your people, and a judge of your 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 And you called me to construct a temple on your holy mount, and, in the city of your dwelling, an altar in the likeness of your holy tabernacle, which you have 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 with you is wisdom, who is familiar with your works, and who was nearby when you made the world, and who knows what is pleasing to your eyes, and who is guided by your teachings.
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 Send her out of your holy heavens and from the throne of your majesty, so that she is with me and labors with me, and I will know what is acceptable with you.
11 since she knows and understands everything she wil guide me prudently in my actions and wil protectme with her glory.	11 For she knows and understands all things, and will lead me soberly in my works, and will guard me by 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 And my works will be acceptable, and I will govern your people justly, and I will be worthy of the throne of my father.
13 'What human being indeed can know the intentions of God? And who can comprehend the wil of theLord?	13 For who among men can know the counsel of God? Or who can imagine the will of God?
14 For the reasoning of mortals is inadequate, our attitudes of mind unstable;	14 For the thoughts of mortals are timid, and our foresight is 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 weighs down the soul, and this earthy dwelling presses many thoughts upon the mind.
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 we assess with difficulty the things that are of earth, and we discover with labor the things that are within our view. So who will search out the things that are in heaven?
17 And who could ever have known your will, had you not given Wisdom and sent your holy Spirit fromabove?	17 Moreover, who will know your mind, unless you give wisdom and send your holy spirit from on high?
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 And in this way, those who are on earth are corrected in their path, and men learn the things that are pleasing to you.
	19 For by wisdom they are saved, who have pleased you, O Lord, from the beginning.”