| 1 Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse! |
| 2 Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! |
| 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, 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 Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted- |
| 6 For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. |
| 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 for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends. |
| 9 To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin. |
| 10 For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response. |
| 11 Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed. |
| 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 hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men's desire; |
| 14 he who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. |
| 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 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 first step toward discipline is a very earnest desire for her; then, care for discipline is love of her; |
| 18 love means the keeping of her laws; To observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility; |
| 19 and incorruptibility makes one close to God; |
| 20 thus the desire for Wisdom leads up to a kingdom. |
| 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 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 shall I admit consuming jealousy to my company, because that can have no fellowship with Wisdom. |
| 24 A great number of wise men is the safety of the world, and a prudent king, the stability of his people; |
| 25 so take instruction from my words, to your profit. |