Wisdom 8
Common English Bible
8 She stands strong from one end of the world to the other. She is a marvelous governor over everything in between.
Solomon’s love for wisdom
2 From my youth, I loved her and sought her out. I sought to make her my bride. I burned within for her beauty. 3 She honors her dignified birth by sharing her life with God. The master of all loves her. 4 She knows God’s secret ways and is a partner in God’s works. 5 If wealth is a possession to be desired with all one’s heart, what could be wealthier than Wisdom, who has given form to everything? 6 If thoughtful planning accomplishes things, who could possibly be wiser than she who designed everything that is? 7 If anyone loves to do what is right, laboring with Wisdom will produce every virtue. She trains persons to learn moderation and practical wisdom. She teaches them what is right and how to exercise courage. Nothing is more advantageous than these when it comes to human existence. 8 If someone wants to gain experience, she’s the one to teach it: She knows what has been from the beginning and sees what is yet to come. She can figure out puzzles of language and resolve riddles. She knows beforehand what signs and wonders point to. She knows what will happen in time and during the seasons of the year.
9 For these reasons, I decided to bring her to live with me. I knew that she would be a good counselor. I knew that she would be able to offer me advice when there were concerns or suffering. 10 I knew that crowds would honor me because of her and that my elders would esteem me, even though I was just a young man. 11 I knew that people would say that I had good judgment because of her. I knew that other leaders would admire me. 12 I knew that they would wait for me to speak if I had not yet spoken, and that they would praise what I had said after I had spoken. I also knew that, if I did have more to say, they would put their hands over their mouths until I had finished speaking. 13 I knew that because of her, I would gain everlasting life and that I would leave behind an everlasting memorial for those who would come after me. 14 I knew that because of her, I would be able to govern nations and that the peoples of the world would obey me. 15 I knew that even terrible tyrants would fear me once they had heard me. I knew that the common people would see that I was a good king and a courageous warrior. 16 I knew that when I entered my house, she would be there, and I would be able to rest easy, for life with her is sweet. I knew that sharing my life with her would mean that I would live a pain-free life, one full of celebration and joy.
Solomon’s prayer for wisdom
17 I thought all these things to myself. I reflected on them in my heart. I thought: If immortality is to be found by becoming part of Wisdom’s family, 18 if dignified delight is to be found in being Wisdom’s friend, if unending wealth comes through the works of her hands, if practical intelligence comes through being well acquainted with her, if fame comes through conversing with her, then I will definitely make her mine. 19 I was a clever child and had been born with a dignified attitude— 20 or, better said, because my soul was already dignified, it entered a spotless body.
21 But I knew that there was no way I could possess Wisdom unless God gave her to me (and to know this was also a mark of intelligence!). So I came before the Lord and pleaded with him. I said with all my heart:
Wisdom 8
Good News Translation
8 Her great power reaches into every part of the world, and she sets everything in useful order.
Solomon's Love for Wisdom
2 (A)Wisdom has been my love. I courted her when I was young and wanted to make her my bride. I fell in love with her beauty. 3 She glorifies her noble origin by living with God, the Lord of all, who loves her. 4 (B)She is familiar with God's mysteries and helps determine his course of action.
5 Is it good to have riches in this life? Nothing can make you richer than Wisdom, who makes everything function. 6 Is knowledge a useful thing to have? Nothing is better than Wisdom, who has given shape to everything that exists. 7 Do you love justice? All the virtues are the result of Wisdom's work: justice and courage, self-control and understanding. Life can offer us nothing more valuable than these. 8 Do you want to have wide experience? Wisdom knows the lessons of history and can anticipate the future. She knows how to interpret what people say and how to solve problems. She knows the miracles that God will perform, and how the movements of history will develop.
9 So I decided to take Wisdom home to live with me, because I knew that she would give me good advice and encourage me in times of trouble and grief. 10 I thought to myself,
Because of her I will be honored wherever people come together. The old men will respect me, even though I am young. 11 They will find that my opinions show deep insight, and those in power will admire me. 12 When I am silent, they will wait for me to speak, and when I speak, they will pay attention. Even when I speak at length, they will listen with concentration. 13 Because of Wisdom I will gain immortality; I will live forever in the memory of those who come after me. 14 I will hold power over nations and peoples; 15 dreaded tyrants will be seized with fear at the mention of my name. I will be famous, as a good king and as a brave soldier. 16 When I come home to Wisdom, I will find contentment because there is no conflict or pain in living with her, only happiness and joy.
17 And so I thought it over: to be wedded to Wisdom is to live forever, 18 to love her is to be perfectly happy, to do her work is to be rich beyond measure, to share her company is to have sound judgment, to converse with her is to be honored. Then I was determined to take Wisdom as my bride. 19 I had a pleasant personality even as a child. I had been fortunate enough to receive a good soul, or rather, I was given a sound body to live in because I was already good. 20 Still, I realized that I would never receive Wisdom unless God gave her to me—and knowing that only God could give her to me was itself a sign of understanding. So I prayed, begging the Lord with all my heart:
Wisdom 8
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
8 She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.
2 Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.
3 She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea and the Lord of all things hath loved her.
4 For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of his works.
5 And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?
6 And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?
7 And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
8 And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
9 I purposed therefore to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.
10 For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:
11 And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
12 They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak, and if I talk much they shall lay their hands on their mouths.
13 Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.
14 I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.
15 Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.
16 When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.
17 Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,
18 And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.
19 And I was a witty child and had received a good soul.
20 And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
21 And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was: I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:
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