Wisdom of Solomon, 9

1. O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

1. God of our fathers and Lord of mercy, whose word has created everything and

2. And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,

2. who in Wisdom formed man to govern your creation,

3. And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

3. to rule the world in holiness and justice, passing sentence with right judgment,

4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:

4. give me Wisdom that sits beside your throne and do not reject me from among your children.

5. For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.

5. For I am your servant, son of your handmaid, a weak and mortal man with little understanding of judgment and laws.

6. For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

6. Even the most perfect among the sons of men counts for nothing, unless he has received Wisdom that comes from you.

7. Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

7. You have chosen me as king for your people, as judge over your sons and daughters.

8. Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.

8. You have ordered me to build a temple on your holy mountain and an altar in the city where you live, in imitation of the holy Tent that was yours from the beginning.

9. And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.

9. With you is Wisdom that knows your works, that was present when you made the world and is aware of what is pleasing in your eyes and what is right according to your commandments.

10. O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.

10. Send her from the holy heavens, dispatch her from your holy throne to work beside me so that I may know what is pleasing to you.

11. For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.

11. For she knows and understands everything; she will direct my actions with prudence and protect me with her power.

12. So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.

12. Then my deeds will please you, and I shall judge your people in justice and be worthy of the throne of my father.

13. For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?

13. Indeed, what man can know the intentions of God? Who can discern the plan of the Lord?

14. For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.

14. For human reasoning is timid, our notions misleading;

15. For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.

15. a perishable body is a burden for the soul and our tent of clay weighs down the active mind.

16. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?

16. We are barely able to know about the things of earth and it is a struggle to understand what is close to us; who then may hope to understand heavenly things?

17. And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?

17. Who has ever known your will unless you first gave him Wisdom and sent down your holy spirit to him?

18. For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom.

18. In this way you directed the human race on the right path; they learned what pleases you and were saved by Wisdom.