Wisdom 8

¹ She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well.

² I loved her and sought her from my youth, and I desired to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her beauty.

³ She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her.

⁴ For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works.

⁵ If riches are a desirable possession in life, what is richer than wisdom who effects all things?

⁶ And if understanding is effective, who more than she is fashioner of what exists?

⁷ And if any one loves righteousness, her labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.

⁸ And if any one longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come; she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders and of the outcome of seasons and times.

⁹ Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief.

¹⁰ Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.

¹¹ I shall be found keen in judgment, and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.

¹² When I am silent they will wait for me, and when I speak they will give heed; and when I speak at greater length they will put their hands on their mouths.

¹³ Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.

¹⁴ I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me;

¹⁵ dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.

¹⁶ When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.

¹⁷ When I considered these things inwardly, and thought upon them in my mind, that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,

¹⁸ and in friendship with her, pure delight, and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, and in the experience of her company, understanding, and renown in sharing her words, I went about seeking how to get her for myself.

¹⁹ As a child I was by nature well endowed, and a good soul fell to my lot;

²⁰ or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.

²¹ But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me-- and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was-- so I appealed to the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said: