Wisdom of Solomon

¹ Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand; Learn, ye judges of the ends of the earth:

² Give ear, ye that have dominion over much people, And make your boast in multitudes of nations.

³ Because your dominion was given you from the Lord, And your sovereignty from the Most High; Who shall search out your works, And shall make inquisition of your counsels:

⁴ Because being officers of his kingdom ye did not judge aright, Neither kept ye law, nor walked after the counsel of God.

⁵ Awfully and swiftly shall he come upon you; Because a stern judgement befalleth them that be in high place:

⁶ For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy, But mighty men shall be searched out mightily.

⁷ For the Sovereign Lord of all will not refrain himself for any man’s person, Neither will he reverence greatness; Because it is he that made both small and great, And alike he taketh thought for all;

⁸ But strict is the scrutiny that cometh upon the powerful.

⁹ Unto you therefore, O princes, are my words, That ye may learn wisdom and fall not from the right way.

¹⁰ For they that have kept holily the things that are holy shall themselves be hallowed; And they that have been taught them shall find what to answer;

¹¹ Set your desire therefore on my words; Long for them, and ye shall be trained by their discipline.

¹² Wisdom is radiant and fadeth not away; And easily is she beheld of them that love her, And found of them that seek her.

¹³ She forestalleth them that desire to know her, making herself first known.

¹⁴ He that riseth up early to seek her shall have no toil, For he shall find her sitting at his gates.

¹⁵ For to think upon her is perfectness of understanding, And he that watcheth for her sake shall quickly be free from care.

¹⁶ Because she goeth about, herself seeking them that are worthy of her, And in their paths she appeareth unto them graciously, And in every purpose she meeteth them.

¹⁷ For her true beginning is desire of discipline; And the care for discipline is love of her;

¹⁸ And love of her is observance of her laws; And to give heed to her laws confirmeth incorruption;

¹⁹ And incorruption bringeth near unto God;

²⁰ So then desire of wisdom promoteth to a kingdom.

²¹ If therefore ye delight in thrones and sceptres, ye princes of peoples, Honour wisdom, that ye may reign for ever.

²² But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare, And I will not hide mysteries from you; But I will trace her out from the beginning of creation, And bring the knowledge of her into clear light, And I will not pass by the truth;

²³ Neither indeed will I take pining envy for my companion in the way, Because envy shall have no fellowship with wisdom.

²⁴ But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world, And an understanding king is tranquillity to his people.

²⁵ Wherefore be disciplined by my words, and thereby shall ye profit.