Wisdom 6

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.	1 Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse!
2 Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.	2 Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples!
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 Because authority was given you by the LORD and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels!
4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;	4 Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God,
5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places.	5 Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted-
6 For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.	6 For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
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 the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike;
8 But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.	8 but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
9 Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not fall away.	9 To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer.	10 For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response.
11 Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed.	11 Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed.
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 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.
13 She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.	13 She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men's desire;
14 Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.	14 he who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate.
15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.	15 For taking thought of her is the perfection of prudence, and he who for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care;
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 Because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude.
17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;	17 For the first step toward discipline is a very earnest desire for her; then, care for discipline is love of her;
18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption;	18 love means the keeping of her laws; To observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility;
19 And incorruption maketh us near unto God:	19 and incorruptibility makes one close to God;
20 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.	20 thus the desire for Wisdom leads up to a kingdom.
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 If, then, you find pleasure in throne and scepter, you princes of the peoples, honor Wisdom, that you may reign as kings forever.
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 Now what wisdom is, and how she came to be I shall relate; and I shall hide no secrets from you, But from the very beginning I shall search out and bring to light knowledge of her, nor shall I diverge from the truth.
23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.	23 Neither shall I admit consuming jealousy to my company, because that can have no fellowship with Wisdom.
24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.	24 A great number of wise men is the safety of the world, and a prudent king, the stability of his people;
25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.	25 so take instruction from my words, to your profit.