Wisdom

1She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.

2Her 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.

3She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea and the Lord of all things hath loved her.

4For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of his works.

5And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?

6And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?

7And 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.

8And 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.

9I 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.

10For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:

11And 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.

12They 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.

13Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.

14I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.

15Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.

16When 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.

17Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,

18And 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.

19And I was a witty child and had received a good soul.

20And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.

21And 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:

1cai quản mọi loài thật tốt đẹp.

2và vẻ đẹp của Đức Khôn Ngoan làm tôi say đắm.

3vẫn hằng yêu quý Đức Khôn Ngoan.

4quyết định về những công trình của Người.

5vì Đức Khôn Ngoan làm nên tất cả ?

6là tay thợ đã làm nên tất cả ?

7hơn các nhân đức ấy ?

8diễn biến trong thời gian, thời đại này qua thời đại khác.

9sẽ trợ lực cho tôi khi tôi gặp buồn phiền lo lắng.

10tôi vẫn chiếm được sự nể vì của các vị bô lão.

11bằng cặp mắt thán phục.

12và khi tôi thao thao bất tuyệt, họ tỏ lòng cung kính.

13và muôn đời lưu danh hậu thế.

14Tôi sẽ thống trị chư dân, và các nước sẽ phải thần phục.

15và quả cảm nơi trận địa.

16mà luôn luôn thích thú, hân hoan.”

17thân thiết với Đức Khôn Ngoan là được trường sinh bất tử ;

18tìm cách lấy được Đức Khôn Ngoan cho riêng mình.

19đã nhận được một linh hồn lương hảo ;

20tôi đã được nhập vào một thể xác không vết nhơ.

21nên tôi hướng về Đức Chúa và cầu nguyện, tôi hết lòng thưa lên :