Wisdom 8

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.	1 Strongly she reaches from one end of the world to the other and she governs the whole world for itsgood.
2 I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.	2 Wisdom I loved and searched for from my youth; I resolved to have her as my bride, I fel in love withher beauty.
3 In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.	3 She enhances her noble birth by sharing God's life, for the Master of Al has always loved her.
4 For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.	4 Indeed, she shares the secrets of God's knowledge, and she chooses what he wil do.
5 If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?	5 If in this life wealth is a desirable possession, what is more wealthy than Wisdom whose work iseverywhere?
6 And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?	6 Or if it be the intel ect that is at work, who, more than she, designs whatever exists?
7 And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as en can have nothing more profitable in their life.	7 Or if it be uprightness you love, why, virtues are the fruit of her labours, since it is she who teachestemperance and prudence, justice and fortitude; nothing in life is more useful for human beings.
8 If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.	8 Or if you are eager for wide experience, she knows the past, she forecasts the future; she knows how toturn maxims, and solve riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders, and of the unfolding of the agesand the times.
9 Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.	9 I therefore determined to take her to share my life, knowing that she would be my counsel or inprosperity and comfort me in cares and sorrow.
10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.	10 'Thanks to her, I shal be admired by the masses and honoured, though young, by the elders.
11 I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.	11 I shall be reckoned shrewd as a judge, and the great wil be amazed at me.
12 When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.	12 They wil wait on my silences, and pay attention when I speak; if I speak at some length, they wil laytheir hand on their lips.
13 Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.	13 By means of her, immortality wil be mine, I shal leave an everlasting memory to my successors.
14 I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject unto me.	14 I shall govern peoples, and nations wil be subject to me;
15 Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.	15 at the sound of my name fearsome despots will be afraid; I shal show myself kind to the people andvaliant in battle.
16 After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.	16 'When I go home I shal take my ease with her, for nothing is bitter in her company, when life is sharedwith her there is no pain, nothing but pleasure and joy.'
17 Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;	17 Having meditated on al this, and having come to the conclusion that immortality resides in kinship withWisdom,
18 And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me.	18 noble contentment in her friendship, inexhaustible riches in her activities, understanding in cultivatingher society, and renown in conversing with her, I went al ways, seeking how to get her.
19 For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.	19 I was a boy of happy disposition, I had received a good soul as my lot,
20 Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.	20 or rather, being good, I had entered an undefiled body;
21 Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,	21 but, realising that I could never possess Wisdom unless God gave her to me, -a sign of intel igence initself, to know in whose gift she lay -- I prayed to the Lord and entreated him, and with all my heart I said: