¹² Wisdom is bright and unfading. She readily appears to those who love her. She’s found by those who keep seeking after her. ¹³ She makes herself known even in advance to those who desire her with all their hearts. ¹⁴ Someone who awakens before dawn to look for her will find her already sitting at the door. ¹⁵ Taking wisdom to heart is the way to bring your thinking to maturity. The one who can’t sleep at night because he’s consumed with thinking about her will soon be free from worry.

¹⁶ She herself goes about looking for those who are worthy of her. She graciously makes herself known to them as they travel. She comes to them in each of the ideas that they think. ¹⁷ The real beginning of wisdom is to desire instruction with all your heart. ¹⁸ Love for instruction expresses itself in careful reflection. If you love Wisdom, you will keep her laws. If you are attentive to her laws, you can be assured that you will live forever. ¹⁹ If you live forever, you will be near to God. ²⁰ If you desire wisdom with all your heart, you will know what good leadership is. ²¹ So if you, who take charge over peoples, want to keep enjoying the thrones and symbols of power that you presently possess, honor wisdom so that you may rule forever.

²² I’ll tell you what Wisdom is and how she came into being. I won’t hide these secret matters from you. I’ll show you her very origins. I’ll lay all that I know of her in the open. I won’t skip past the truth. ²³ I won’t be selfish or allow jealousy to make me keep this to myself, for jealousy has nothing to do with wisdom. ²⁴ The more wise people there are in the world, the more likely it is that the world will be saved. A sensible ruler gives stability to his people. ²⁵ So it will do you good to be instructed by my words.

⁷ Because of this, I prayed, and the ability to reason wisely was given to me. I called out, and Wisdom’s spirit came to me. ⁸ I chose wisdom above all the symbols of royalty and over any throne. In comparison to her, I counted riches as nothing. ⁹ She was more precious to me than even a priceless jewel, since all the gold in the world would be nothing more than a little sand before her. All the silver would be just like clay in her presence. ¹⁰ I loved her more than health or beauty. I chose her above sunlight itself, for her brightness never sets.

¹¹ Yet then I found that every other good thing also came with her, for in her hands were countless riches. ¹² I rejoiced in all this because Wisdom brings them all in tow. I didn’t know that she had given birth to them. ¹³ I learned in innocence, and I don’t begrudge sharing it with you. I won’t conceal her riches. ¹⁴ She’s a never-ending treasure for humans. Those who possess her are ready to be God’s friends, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.

Wisdom’s all-embracing excellence

¹⁵ I pray that God will allow me to speak knowledgeably and to ponder well what God has taught me. God himself is the guide even of Wisdom, and God keeps those who already possess wisdom on the right course. ¹⁶ We’re in God’s hands, as are our words, all our reasoning, and all our practical knowledge. ¹⁷ He’s given me accurate knowledge of all that is—of how the world is made and holds together, and of the forces at work in the world’s essential elements. ¹⁸ He’s given me knowledge of the beginning, end, and middle of time; of the alternation of the solstices and the changes of seasons; ¹⁹ of the cycle of the year and the positions of the stars; ²⁰ of the nature of animals, the temperaments of beasts, the extraordinary powers of spirits, the thoughts of humans, the different types of plants, and the healing powers of roots. ²¹ I now know everything, visible and hidden, ²² for Wisdom, the designer of everything that is, has taught me.

Her spirit is insightful, holy, unique, diverse, refined, kinetic, pure, spotless, transparent, harmless, delighting in what is good, sharp, ²³ unstoppable, overflowing with kindness, delighting in humans, steadfast, secure, not anxious, all-powerful, and all-seeing. Her spirit can be found in every spirit that is perceptive, pure, and refined. ²⁴ Wisdom is more mobile than anything that moves. She pervades and embraces everything because she is so pure. ²⁵ Wisdom is the warm breath of God’s power. She pours forth from the all-powerful one’s pure glory. Therefore, nothing impure can enter her. ²⁶ She’s the brightness that shines forth from eternal light. She’s a mirror that flawlessly reflects God’s activity. She’s the perfect image of God’s goodness. ²⁷ She can do anything, since she’s one and undivided. She never changes, and yet she makes everything new. Generation after generation, she enters souls and shapes them into God’s friends and prophets. ²⁸ God doesn’t love anything as much as people who make their home with Wisdom. ²⁹ She’s more splendid than the sun and more wonderful than the arrangement of the stars. She’s even brighter than sunlight, ³⁰ for night follows day, but evil can never overcome Wisdom.

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: