Wisdom of Solomon, 8

1. Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.

1. Wisdom displays her strength from one end of the earth to the other, ordering all things rightly.

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. I loved her and sought her from my youth; I strove to have her as my bride for I had fallen in love with her beauty.

3. In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.

3. Her nearness to God tells of her noble birth. Because the Lord of all has loved her,

4. For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.

4. she is instructed in God's knowledge and chooses his works.

5. If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?

5. If we desire riches in life, what is richer than Wisdom who is the active cause of everything?

6. And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?

6. If the intellect shows itself in action, still more does she who fashions everything.

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. If you love righteousness, every virtue is the fruit of her labor, for she teaches temperance, prudence, justice, fortitude - all that is most valuable in life.

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. If someone is eager for experience, she knows what took place in the past and forecasts the future. She has the art of interpretation and knows how to solve riddles, she foresees signs and wonders, the end of ages and eras.

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. This is why I decided to have her as companion for life, knowing she would be a wise counselor and encourage me in times of worry and distress.

10. For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.

10. I thought: With her I shall have glory among the nations and, although young, honor among the elderly;

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 found penetrating in judgment and be admired by the powerful.

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. If I am silent they will wait to hear me; if I speak, they will pay attention; though I speak at length they will put their 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. Thanks to her I shall win immortality, and to those who come after me I shall leave an everlasting memory.

14. I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject unto me.

14. I shall govern peoples, and nations will 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. Terrible sovereigns will cower when they hear of my name, but to my people I shall show myself kind; in battle, courageous.

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 come home I shall take my rest with her, for there is nothing bitter in her company and no suffering in sharing life with her, only 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. Pondering over all this, I understood that I would achieve immortality by being united to Wisdom;

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. I would have pure delight through friendship with her, inexhaustible riches in what she does, understanding from being in her company and renown from sharing her conversation. Then I set out to seek and possess her.

19. For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.

19. I had a pleasant personality even as a child and

20. Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

20. was good-natured 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 knowing that I could only possess Wisdom if she were given me by God - it was a mark of intelligence to know who was the donor - I turned to the Lord and implored him, saying with all my heart: