Wisdom Of Solomon 7
1 I myself also am a mortal man, like
to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,
2 and in my mother's womb was
fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of
the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.
3 And when I was born, I drew in the
common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first
voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes,
and that with cares. 5 For there is no
king that had any other beginning of birth.
6 For all men have one entrance into
life, and the like going out.
7 Wherefore I prayed, and
understanding was given me: I called upon God, and
the spirit of wisdom came to me. 8 I
preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in
comparison of her. 9 Neither compared
I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a
little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.
10 I loved her above health and
beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from
her never goeth out.
11 All good things together came to
me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.
12 And I rejoiced in
them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I
knew not that she was the mother of them.
13 I learned diligently, and do
communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.
14 For she is a treasure unto men
that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being
commended for the gifts that come from learning.
15 God hath granted me to speak as I
would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it
is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.
16 For in his hand are both we and
our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.
17 For he hath given me certain
knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and
the operation of the elements: 18 the
beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning
of the sun, and change of seasons:
19 the circuits of years, and
positions of stars: 20 the natures of
living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and
the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots:
21 and all such things as are either
secret or manifest, them I know.
22 For wisdom, which is the worker of
all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, one only,
manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving
the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,
23 kind to man, stedfast, sure, free
from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all
understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
24 For wisdom is more moving than any
motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.
25 For she is the breath of the power
of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore
can no defiled thing fall into her.
26 For she is the brightness of the
everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of
his goodness. 27 And being but one,
she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new:
and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and
prophets.
28 For God loveth none but him that
dwelleth with wisdom. 29 For she is
more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared
with the light, she is found before it.
30 For after this cometh night: but
vice shall not prevail against wisdom.