Wisdom 6

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.	1 Wisdom is better than power, and a prudent man is better than a powerful one.
2 Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.	2 Therefore, hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you judges of the ends of the earth.
3 For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.	3 Listen closely, you who hold the attention of the crowds, and who please yourselves by disturbing the nations.
4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;	4 For power has been given to you from the Lord and strength from the Most High, who will examine your works and scrutinize your thoughts.
5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places.	5 For, when you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge correctly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk according to the will of God.
6 For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.	6 Horribly and quickly he will appear to you, because he will make a severe judgment for those who are in charge.
7 For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man's person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike.	7 For, to the little, great mercy is granted, but the powerful will endure powerful torment.
8 But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.	8 For the Lord will not exempt anyone’s character, nor will he stand in awe of anyone’s greatness, because he himself made the little and the great, and he is equally concerned for everyone.
9 Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not fall away.	9 But a powerful torture pursues the powerful.
10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer.	10 Therefore, O kings, these, my words, are for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not perish.
11 Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed.	11 For those who have justly preserved justice will be justified, and those who have learned these things will find what to answer.
12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.	12 Therefore, desire my words, love them, and you will have instruction.
13 She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.	13 Wisdom is pure and never fades away, and is easily seen by those who love her and found by those who seek her.
14 Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.	14 She anticipates those who desire her, so that she first reveals herself to them.
15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.	15 Whoever awakens early to seek her, will not labor, for he will find her sitting at his door.
16 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought.	16 Therefore, by thinking about her, understanding is perfected, and whoever remains watchful for her, will quickly be secure.
17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;	17 For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she reveals herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all foresight.
18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption;	18 For the very true beginning of her is the desire for instruction.
19 And incorruption maketh us near unto God:	19 Therefore, the zeal for instruction is love, and love is the keeping of her laws, and the keeping of her laws is the perfection of incorruptibility,
20 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.	20 while incorruptibility makes us near to God.
21 If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.	21 And so, the desire for wisdom leads to an everlasting kingdom.
22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.	22 If, therefore, your delight is in thrones and scepters, O kings of the people, love wisdom, so that you may reign forever;
23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.	23 love the light of wisdom, all you who lead the peoples.
24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.	24 But what wisdom is, and how she was made, I will report, and I will not hide the mysteries of God from you, but I will investigate her from the beginning of her birth, and I will place the knowledge of her in the light, and will not pass over the truth.
25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.	25 Neither will I hold to the path that dwindles away with envy, because such a man will not partake in wisdom.
	26 For the proliferation of the wise is sanity for the world, and a wise king is the mainstay of the people.
	27 Therefore, receive instruction by my words, and it will benefit you.