Wisdom reaches from one end of the
earth to the other
and governs all things well.
I have loved her and sought her from
my youth.
I have desired to take her for my
bride,
for I am enamoured with her beauty.
She enhances her noble birth by living
with God,
and the Lord of all loves her.
For she has received the knowledge
of God;
she is his helper in all he does.
If you desire riches in life,
what is richer than wisdom, who is
the cause of all things?
If understanding is effective,
what about wisdom, who designed
all things?
And if a person loves righteousness,
wisdom’s labours have great virtue,
for she teaches self-control, prudence,
justice, and courage-
the most valuable attributes in life.
And if a person desires much
knowledge,
wisdom knows the past and foresees
the future.
She knows the subtleties of speech and
the solutions of riddles.
She foreknows signs and wonders
and the outcome of times and ages
yet to come.
So I determined to take wisdom to live
with me,
knowing that she would give me
good instruction
and comfort me in my cares and grief.
Because of her, the multitudes
honour me,
and the elders esteem me, though
I am young.
I will be found wise in judgement,
and I will be admitted by the mighty.
They will wait for me when I am silent,
and they will pay attention when I
speak.
And if I talk at length,
they will not interrupt me.
Because of wisdom I will be immortal,
I will leave an everlasting memory
to those who come after me.
I will rule the people,
and nations will be subject to me.
Tyrants will quake when they hear my
name;
my people will find that I am good
and valiant in war.
When I go into my home, I will find
rest with wisdom,
for companionship with her has no
bitterness.
To live with her is to live without
pain in joy and gladness.
I pondered these things and weighed
them in my mind-
that associating with wisdom brings
immortality,
that her friendship is pure delight,
that her activities bring great wealth,
that her companionship brings
understanding,
and that a person gains respect by
sharing her words.
Then I went about seeking how I might
get wisdom for myself.
I was born a gifted child,
and I was naturally good.
Better yet, since I was good,
I was given an undefiled body.
But I knew I could not possess wisdom
unless God gave her to me.
It was sign of intelligence that I
knew that who had given me wisdom.
So I went to the Lord and pleaded with
him.
With my whole heart I said:
A Prayer of Wisdom
“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
you have made all things by your
word.
In your wisdom you formed people
to be masters over the creatures you
made,
to rule the world in holiness and
justice,
and to pronounce judgement with
a righteous heart.
Give me the wisdom that sits by your
throne,
and do not exclude me from being
one of your servants.
For I am your servant and the son of
your servant girl,
a weak man with a short life
and little understanding of justice
and laws. (Wis. 8)
