Wisdom of Solomon, 6

1. Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;

1. Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.

2. hear this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject nations!

2. Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.

3. For sovereignty is given to you by the Lord and power by the Most High, who will himself probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.

3. For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into your plans.

4. If therefore, as servants of his kingdom, you have not ruled justly nor observed the law, nor followed the will of God,

4. Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God,

5. he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly placed a ruthless judgement falls;

5. he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places.

6. the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty will be mightily tormented.

6. For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested.

7. For the Lord of all does not cower before anyone, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all alike;

7. For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, nor show deference to greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike.

8. but a searching trial awaits those who wield power.

8. But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.

9. So, monarchs, my words are meant for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not fall into error;

9. To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.

10. for those who in holiness observe holy things will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.

10. For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense.

11. Set your heart, therefore, on what I have to say, listen with a will, and you will be instructed.

11. Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed.

12. Wisdom is brilliant, she never fades. By those who love her, she is readily seen, by those who seek her, she is readily found.

12. Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her.

13. She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.

13. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.

14. Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but will find her sitting at the door.

14. He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates.

15. Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon be free from care.

15. To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,

16. For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.

16. because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.

17. For Wisdom begins with the sincere desire for instruction, care for instruction means loving her,

17. The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her,

18. loving her means keeping her laws, attention to her laws guarantees incorruptibility,

18. and love of her is the keeping of her laws, and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,

19. and incorruptibility brings us near to God;

19. and immortality brings one near to God;

20. the desire for Wisdom thus leads to sovereignty.

20. so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.

21. If then thrones and sceptres delight you, monarchs of the nations, honour Wisdom, so that you may reign for ever.

21. Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs over the peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign for ever.

22. What Wisdom is and how she was born, I shall now explain; I shall hide no mysteries from you, but shall follow her steps from the outset of her origin, setting out what we know of her in full light, without departing from the truth.

22. I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, and I will hide no secrets from you, but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, and make knowledge of her clear, and I will not pass by the truth;

23. Blighting envy is no companion for me, for envy has nothing in common with Wisdom.

23. neither will I travel in the company of sickly envy, for envy does not associate with wisdom.

24. In the greatest number of the wise lies the world's salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of a people.

24. A multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world, and a sensible king is the stability of his people.

25. Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.

25. Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.