Wisdom 7

¹Certainly, I myself am also a mortal man, like everyone, and the offspring of this earth, which was made beforehand; and in my mother’s womb I was fashioned with care

²within the time of ten months, made of blood, from the seed of man and the delight of sleeping together

³And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and in similar fashion, I fell upon the earth, and the first voice I uttered, like everyone, was crying

⁴I was nursed in swaddling clothes and with great care

⁵For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth

⁶Therefore, there is only one entrance for everyone into life, and the same in leaving

⁷Because of this, I chose, and understanding was given to me; and I prayed, and the spirit of wisdom came to me

⁸and I placed her before kingdoms and thrones, and I considered riches nothing in comparison with her

⁹Neither did I compare to her a precious stone, for all gold in comparison with her is like a little sand, and silver, in view of her, will be valued as if dirt

¹⁰I loved her above health and beauty, and I placed having her before light, for her light is unfailing

¹¹Yet all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable honors by her hand

¹²and I rejoiced in all these, because this wisdom went before me, although I did not know that she is the mother of them all

¹³This I have learned without falsehood and communicate without envy, and her integrity I do not hide

¹⁴Indeed, she is an infinite treasure chest for men, and those who make use of it, become partakers in the friendship of God, because they are recommended by the gifts of instruction

¹⁵Yet God has given to me to speak my mind, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given to me, because he is the leader of wisdom and the repairer of understanding

¹⁶For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the works of science, and instruction

¹⁷For he has given me true knowledge of these things which exist: so as to know the orderly arrangement of the world, and the powers of the elements

¹⁸the beginning and the end and the midpoint of the seasons, the characteristics of changing things, and the divisions of time

¹⁹the courses of the years, and the orderly arrangement of the stars

²⁰the natures of animals, and the rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and the reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the benefits of roots

²¹and all such things as are hidden and unexpected, I have learned; for wisdom, the artisan of all things, taught me

²²For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, singular, manifold, subtle, perceptive, lively, chaste, reliable, gracious, loving, good, astute, who forbids nothing beneficial

²³humane, kind, steadfast, trustworthy, secure, having all virtue, watching for all things and grasping all things with a pure and most delicate understanding of spirit

²⁴For wisdom is more active than all active things, yet she reaches everywhere because of her purity

²⁵For she is a breath of the virtue of God and a genuine emanation from the purity of the almighty God, and therefore nothing unclean can invade her

²⁶Indeed, she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of the majesty of God, and the image of his goodness

²⁷And though she is one, she can do all things; and, unchanging in herself, she renews all things, and throughout the nations she conveys herself to holy souls, establishing them as friends and prophets of God

²⁸For God loves none but those who dwell with wisdom

²⁹For she is more spectacular than the sun, and above the array of all the stars; compared with the light, she is found to be before it

³⁰Indeed, after her comes night, but wisdom will not be overcome by malice