Wisdom of Solomon, 7

1. I too am mortal like everyone else, a descendant of the first man formed from the earth. I was modelled in flesh inside a mother's womb,

1. I also am mortal, like all men, a descendant of the first-formed child of earth; and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh,

2. where, for ten months, in blood I acquired substance -- the result of virile seed and pleasure, sleep's companion.

2. within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage.

3. I too, when I was born, drew in the common air, I fell on the same ground that bears us all, and crying was the first sound I made, like everyone else.

3. And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth, and my first sound was a cry, like that of all.

4. I was nurtured in swaddling clothes, with every care.

4. I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths.

5. No king has known any other beginning of existence;

5. For no king has had a different beginning of existence;

6. for there is only one way into life, and one way out of it.

6. there is for all mankind one entrance into life, and a common departure.

7. And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.

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

8. I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.

8. I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.

9. I reckoned no precious stone to be her equal, for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand, and beside her, silver ranks as mud.

9. Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.

10. I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps.

10. I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.

11. In her company all good things came to me, and at her hands incalculable wealth.

11. All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.

12. All these delighted me, since Wisdom brings them, though I did not then realise that she was their mother.

12. I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother.

13. What I learned diligently, I shall pass on liberally, I shall not conceal how rich she is.

13. I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth,

14. For she is to human beings an inexhaustible treasure, and those who acquire this win God's friendship, commended to him by the gifts of instruction.

14. for it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.

15. May God grant me to speak as he would wish and conceive thoughts worthy of the gifts I have received, since he is both guide to Wisdom and director of sages;

15. May God grant that I speak with judgment and have thought worthy of what I have received, for he is the guide even of wisdom and the corrector of the wise.

16. for we are in his hand, yes, ourselves and our sayings, and all intellectual and all practical knowledge.

16. For both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts.

17. He it was who gave me sure knowledge of what exists, to understand the structure of the world and the action of the elements,

17. For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements;

18. the beginning, end and middle of the times, the alternation of the solstices and the succession of the seasons,

18. the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons,

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

19. the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars,

20. the natures of animals and the instincts of wild beasts, the powers of spirits and human mental processes, the varieties of plants and the medical properties of roots.

20. the natures of animals and the tempers of wild beasts, the powers of spirits and the reasonings of men, the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots;

21. And now I understand everything, hidden or visible, for Wisdom, the designer of all things, has instructed me.

21. I learned both what is secret and what is manifest,

22. For within her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd,

22. for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. For in her there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible,

23. irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating all intelligent, pure and most subtle spirits.

23. beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent and pure and most subtle.

24. For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things.

24. For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.

25. She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; so nothing impure can find its way into her.

25. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.

26. For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power, and image of his goodness.

26. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.

27. Although she is alone, she can do everything; herself unchanging, she renews the world, and, generation after generation, passing into holy souls, she makes them into God's friends and prophets;

27. Though she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets;

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

28. for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom.

29. She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines all the constellations; compared with light, she takes first place,

29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior,

30. for light must yield to night, but against Wisdom evil cannot prevail.

30. for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.