Wisdom of Solomon 8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.(A)
Love for Wisdom
2 I loved her and sought her from my youth;
I desired to take her for my bride
and became enamored of her beauty.(B)
3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God,
and the Lord of all loves her.(C)
4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God
and an associate in his works.
5 If riches are a desirable possession in life,
what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things?(D)
6 And if understanding is effective,
who more than she is fashioner of what exists?(E)
7 And if anyone loves righteousness,
her labors are virtues,
for she teaches self-control and prudence,
justice and courage;
nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these.
8 And if anyone longs for wide experience,
she knows the things of old and infers the things to come;
she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles;
she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders
and of the outcome of seasons and times.(F)
Wisdom Indispensable to Rulers
9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she would give me good counsel
and encouragement in cares and grief.(G)
10 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes
and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.(H)
11 I shall be found keen in judgment,
and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.(I)
12 When I am silent they will wait for me,
and when I speak they will give heed;
if I speak at greater length,
they will put their hands on their mouths.(J)
13 Because of her I shall have immortality
and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.(K)
14 I shall govern peoples,
and nations will be subject to me;(L)
15 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me;
among the people I shall show myself capable and courageous in war.
16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her,
for companionship with her has no bitterness,
and life with her has no pain but gladness and joy.(M)
17 When I considered these things inwardly
and pondered in my heart
that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,(N)
18 and in friendship with her, pure delight,
and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth,
and in the experience of her company, understanding,
and renown in sharing her words,
I went about seeking how to get her for myself.(O)
19 As a child I was naturally gifted,
and a good soul fell to my lot,
20 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.
21 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—
and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was—
so I appealed to the Lord and implored him,
and with my whole heart I said,(P)
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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