Wisdom 6
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Kings Should Seek Wisdom
6 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand;
learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,
and boast of many nations.
3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord,
and your sovereignty from the Most High;
he will search out your works and inquire into your plans.
4 Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,
or keep the law,
or walk according to the purpose of God,
5 he will come upon you terribly and swiftly,
because severe judgment falls on those in high places.
6 For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy,
but the mighty will be mightily tested.
7 For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of anyone,
or show deference to greatness;
because he himself made both small and great,
and he takes thought for all alike.
8 But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.
9 To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,
so that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.
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 Therefore set your desire on my words;
long for them, and you will be instructed.
Description of Wisdom
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 hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
14 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
15 To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
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 The beginning of wisdom[a] is the most sincere desire for instruction,
and concern for instruction is love of her,
18 and love of her is the keeping of her laws,
and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,
19 and immortality brings one near to God;
20 so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.
21 Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs over the peoples,
honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever.
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 nor will I travel in the company of sickly envy,
for envy[b] does not associate with wisdom.
24 The multitude of the wise is the salvation of the world,
and a sensible king is the stability of any people.
25 Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.
Footnotes
- Wisdom 6:17 Gk Her beginning
- Wisdom 6:23 Gk this
Wisdom of Solomon 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Kings Should Seek Wisdom
6 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand;
learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.(A)
2 Give ear, you who rule over multitudes
and boast of many nations.
3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord
and your sovereignty from the Most High;
he will search out your works and inquire into your plans.(B)
4 Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly
or keep the law
or walk according to the purpose of God,(C)
5 he will come upon you terribly and swiftly,
because severe judgment falls on those in high places.
6 For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy,
but the mighty will be mightily tested.(D)
7 For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of anyone
or show deference to greatness,
because he himself made both small and great,
and he takes thought for all alike.(E)
8 But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.
9 To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,
so that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.(F)
10 For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness,
and those who have been taught them will find a defense.(G)
11 Therefore set your desire on my words;
long for them, and you will be instructed.
Description of Wisdom
12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her
and is found by those who seek her.(H)
13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.(I)
14 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.(J)
15 To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,(K)
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 The beginning of wisdom[a] is the most sincere desire for instruction,
18 and concern for instruction is love of her,
and love of her is the keeping of her laws,
and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,(L)
19 and immortality brings one near to God,
20 so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.(M)
21 Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs over the peoples,
honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever.(N)
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,(O)
23 nor will I travel in the company of sickly envy,
for envy[b] does not associate with wisdom.(P)
24 The multitude of the wise is the salvation of the world,
and a sensible king is the stability of any people.(Q)
25 Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.
Wisdom 6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 6
Exhortation to Seek Wisdom[a]
1 Hear, therefore, kings, and understand;(A)
learn, you magistrates[b] of the earth’s expanse!
2 Give ear, you who have power over multitudes
and lord it over throngs of peoples!
3 Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels!(B)
4 Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge rightly,
and did not keep the law,[c]
nor walk according to the will of God,
5 Terribly and swiftly he shall come against you,
because severe judgment awaits the exalted—
6 For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy(C)
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
7 For the Ruler of all shows no partiality,
nor does he fear greatness,(D)
Because he himself made the great as well as the small,
and provides for all alike;
8 but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
9 To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed(E)
that you may learn wisdom and that you may not fall away.
10 For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed will be found holy,
and those learned in them will have ready a response.[d]
11 Desire therefore my words;
long for them and you will be instructed.
12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom,
and she is readily perceived by those who love her,
and found by those who seek her.(F)
13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her;(G)
14 one who watches for her at dawn will not be disappointed,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
15 For setting your heart on her is the perfection of prudence,
and whoever keeps vigil for her is quickly free from care;
16 Because she makes her rounds, seeking those worthy of her,
and graciously appears to them on the way,
and goes to meet them with full attention.(H)
17 [e]For the first step toward Wisdom is an earnest desire for discipline;(I)
18 then, care for discipline is love of her;
love means the keeping of her laws;
To observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility;
19 and incorruptibility makes one close to God;
20 thus the desire for Wisdom leads to a kingdom.
21 If, then, you find pleasure in throne and scepter, you princes of peoples,
honor Wisdom, that you may reign as kings forever.
II. Praise of Wisdom by Solomon[f]
Introduction
22 Now what wisdom is, and how she came to be I shall proclaim;
and I shall conceal no secrets from you,
But from the very beginning I shall search out
and bring to light knowledge of her;
I shall not diverge from the truth.(J)
23 Neither shall I admit consuming jealousy to my company,
because that can have no fellowship with Wisdom.(K)
24 A multitude of the wise is the safety of the world,
and a prudent king, the stability of the people;(L)
25 so take instruction from my words, to your profit.
Footnotes
- 6:1–21 The first part of the book closes with an exhortation comparable to 1:1–15, and it leads into “Solomon’s” personal comments on wisdom in chaps. 7–9.
- 6:1 Kings…magistrates: note the inclusion with v. 21 (“kings”). The address to earthly powers is in accord with the opening (1:1), but the true audience remains the Jewish community.
- 6:4 Law: that of Moses; cf. 2:12; 6:10.
- 6:10 Response: a suitable plea before the great Judge. Cf. Prv 22:21; Jb 31:14; Hb 2:1; Sir 8:9.
- 6:17–20 This type of reasoning approximates the rhetorical sorites, a series of statements in which the predicate of each becomes the subject of the next. Cf. Rom 5:3–5.
- 6:22–9:18 In these verses the author identifies with Solomon (without mentioning that name anywhere), and praises the beauty of Wisdom, describing how he sought her out. Thus the readers of the book can find a model in their search for Wisdom.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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