Wisdom 7

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I myself also am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.	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 In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.	2 in a ten-months' period-body and blood, from the seed of man, and the pleasure that accompanies marriage.
3 And being born I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.	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 nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.	4 In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured.
5 For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.	5 For no king has any different origin or birth,
6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.	6 but one is the entry into life for all; and in one same way they leave it.
7 Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:	7 Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
8 And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.	8 I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
9 Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold in comparison of her, is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay.	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 above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.	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 Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands,	11 Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands;
12 And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.	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 Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.	13 Simply I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share- her riches I do not hide away;
14 For she is an infinite treasure to men! which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of discipline.	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 And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:	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 in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.	16 For both we and our words are in his hand, as well as all prudence and knowledge of crafts.
17 For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues 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, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,	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 revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,	19 Cycles of years, positions of the stars,
20 The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues 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 all such things as are hid and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.	21 Such things as are hidden I learned and such as are plain;
22 For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,	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 Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits, intelligible, pure, subtile.	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 more active than all active things: and reacheth everywhere by reason of her purity.	24 For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
25 For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emanation of the glory of the almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh 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 the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.	26 For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness.
27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God 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 loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.	28 For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.	29 For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence;
30 For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.	30 for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.