Wisdom 8

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.	1 Strongly she reaches from one end of the world to the other and she governs the whole world for itsgood.
2 Her I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought to take her for my bride and was enamored 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 She adds to nobility the splendor of companionship with God; even the LORD of all 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 instructress in the understanding of God, the selector of his works.	4 Indeed, she shares the secrets of God's knowledge, and she chooses what he wil do.
5 And if riches be a desirable possession in life, what is more rich than Wisdom, who produces 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 renders service, who in the world is a better craftsman than she?	6 Or if it be the intel ect that is at work, who, more than she, designs whatever exists?
7 Or if one loves justice, the fruits of her works are virtues; For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful for men than these.	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 Or again, if one yearns for copious learning, she knows the things of old, and infers those yet to come. She understands the turns of phrases and the solutions of riddles; signs and wonders she knows in advance and the outcome of times and ages.	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 So I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well, and my comfort in care 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 should have glory among the masses, and esteem from the elders, though I be but a youth.	10 'Thanks to her, I shal be admired by the masses and honoured, though young, by the elders.
11 I should become keen in judgment, and should be a marvel before rulers.	11 I shall be reckoned shrewd as a judge, and the great wil be amazed at me.
12 They would abide my silence and attend my utterance; and as I spoke on further, they would place their hands upon their mouths.	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 For her sake I should have immortality and leave to those after me an everlasting memory.	13 By means of her, immortality wil be mine, I shal leave an everlasting memory to my successors.
14 I should govern peoples, and nations would be my subjects-	14 I shall govern peoples, and nations wil be subject to me;
15 terrible princes, hearing of me, would be afraid; in the assembly I should appear noble, and in war courageous.	15 at the sound of my name fearsome despots will be afraid; I shal show myself kind to the people andvaliant in battle.
16 Within my dwelling, I should take my repose beside her; For association with her involves no bitterness and living with her no grief, but rather joy and gladness.	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 Thinking thus within myself, and reflecting in my heart That there is immortality in kinship with Wisdom,	17 Having meditated on al this, and having come to the conclusion that immortality resides in kinship withWisdom,
18 and good pleasure in her friendship, and unfailing riches in the works of her hands, And that in frequenting her society there is prudence, and fair renown in sharing her discourses, I went about seeking to take her for my own.	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 Now, I was a well-favored child, and I came by a noble nature;	19 I was a boy of happy disposition, I had received a good soul as my lot,
20 or rather, being noble, I attained an unsullied body.	20 or rather, being good, I had entered an undefiled body;
21 And knowing that I could not otherwise possess her except God gave it-- and this, too, was prudence, to know whose is the gift-- I went to the LORD and besought him, and said with all my heart:	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: