| 1 God of my fathers, LORD of mercy. you who have made all things by your word |
| 2 And in your wisdom have established man to rule the creatures produced by you, |
| 3 To govern the world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in integrity of heart: |
| 4 Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, and reject me not from among your children; |
| 5 For I am your servant, the son of your handmaid, a man weak and short-lived and lacking in comprehension of judgment and of laws. |
| 6 Indeed, though one be perfect among the sons of men, if Wisdom, who comes from you, be not with him, he shall be held in no esteem. |
| 7 You have chosen me king over your people and magistrate for your sons and daughters. |
| 8 You have bid me build a temple on your holy mountain and an altar in the city that is your dwelling place, a copy of the holy tabernacle which you had established from of old. |
| 9 Now with you is Wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you made the world; Who understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what is conformable with your commands. |
| 10 Send her forth from your holy heavens and from your glorious throne dispatch her That she may be with me and work with me, that I may know what is your pleasure. |
| 11 For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory; |
| 12 Thus my deeds will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly and be worthy of my father's throne. |
| 13 For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what our LORD intends? |
| 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. |
| 15 For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. |
| 16 And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? |
| 17 Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? |
| 18 And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom. |