Wisdom of Solomon, 7

1. I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,

1. I, too, am a mortal man like others, a descendant of the first human being formed from clay. My flesh was molded in a mother's womb;

2. And in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.

2. her blood formed me for ten months from the seed of man, given in pleasure, the companion of sleep.

3. And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.

3. Once born, I breathed the air common to everyone; I fell on the earth, the same for all; my first cry was like that of other infants.

4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.

4. I was nourished, cared for and wrapped in swaddling clothes;

5. For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.

5. indeed, no other king began life differently.

6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

6. For there is but one way into life for all and one way out of it.

7. Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

7. I prayed and understanding was given to me; I asked earnestly and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.

8. I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

8. I preferred her to scepters and thrones and I considered wealth as nothing compared with her.

9. Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.

9. I preferred her to any jewel of inestimable value, since gold beside her is nothing but a few grains of sand, and silver but mud.

10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.

10. I loved her more than wealth and beauty and even preferred her to light, because her radiance never dies.

11. All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.

11. She brought with her all other good things, untold riches in her hands.

12. And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.

12. I rejoiced at all that came with Wisdom without knowing she was their mother.

13. I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.

13. What I learned without self-interest I share freely and with no desire to conceal her value;

14. For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.

14. for she is an inexhaustible treasure for man and those who possess her have gained the friendship of God, commended to him by the fruits of her discipline.

15. God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.

15. May God grant me to speak with discernment and reflect in a way worthy of the gifts I have received, for he is the guide of Wisdom and directs wise men.

16. For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.

16. For we are in God's hands, we ourselves, our words, our understanding and technical knowledge.

17. For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:

17. He, in fact, has given me true knowledge of what is, of the world and the properties of the elements;

18. The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:

18. the beginning, the end and the times in between; the alternation of the solstices and the succession of the seasons;

19. The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:

19. the cycles of the year and the position of the stars;

20. The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:

20. the natures of animal species and the ways of wild beasts; the power of spirits and human reasoning; the varieties of plants and medicinal properties of roots.

21. And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.

21. I have come to know everything we see and everything hidden,

22. For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,

22. because Wisdom, who designed them all, taught me. In her is a spirit that is intelligent, saintly, unique, manifold, subtle, active, concise, pure and lucid. It cannot corrupt, loves what is good and nothing can restrain it;

23. Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.

23. it is beneficent, loving humankind, steadfast, dependable, calm though almighty. It sees everything and penetrates all spirits, however intelligent, subtle and pure they may be.

24. For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.

24. Wisdom, in fact, surpasses in mobility all that moves, and being so pure pervades and permeates all things.

25. For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.

25. She is a breath of the power of God, a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; nothing impure can enter her.

26. For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.

26. She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of God's action and an image of his goodness.

27. And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.

27. She is but one, yet Wisdom can do all things and, herself unchanging, she renews all things. She enters holy souls, making them prophets and friends of God,

28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

28. for God loves only those who live with Wisdom.

29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

29. She is indeed more beautiful than the sun and surpasses all the constellations; she outrivals light,

30. For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.

30. for light gives way to night, but evil cannot prevail against Wisdom.