The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by those that seek her.

Wisdom is better than power, and a prudent man is better than a powerful one.

Therefore, hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you judges of the ends of the earth.(a)

Listen closely, you who hold the attention of the crowds, and who please yourselves by disturbing the nations.(b)

For power has been given to you from the Lord and strength from the Most High, who will examine your works and scrutinize your thoughts.

For, when you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge correctly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk according to the will of God.

Horribly and quickly he will appear to you, because he will make a severe judgment for those who are in charge.

For, to the little, great mercy is granted, but the powerful will endure powerful torment.

For the Lord will not exempt anyone’s character, nor will he stand in awe of anyone’s greatness, because he himself made the little and the great, and he is equally concerned for everyone.

But a powerful torture pursues the powerful.

Therefore, O kings, these, my words, are for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not perish.

For those who have justly preserved justice will be justified, and those who have learned these things will find what to answer.

Therefore, desire my words, love them, and you will have instruction.(c)

Wisdom is pure and never fades away, and is easily seen by those who love her and found by those who seek her.

She anticipates those who desire her, so that she first reveals herself to them.

Whoever awakens early to seek her, will not labor, for he will find her sitting at his door.

Therefore, by thinking about her, understanding is perfected, and whoever remains watchful for her, will quickly be secure.

For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she reveals herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all foresight.

For the very true beginning of her is the desire for instruction.

Therefore, the zeal for instruction is love, and love is the keeping of her laws, and the keeping of her laws is the perfection of incorruptibility,

while incorruptibility makes us near to God.

And so, the desire for wisdom leads to an everlasting kingdom.

If, therefore, your delight is in thrones and scepters, O kings of the people, love wisdom, so that you may reign forever;(d)

love the light of wisdom, all you who lead the peoples.(e)

But what wisdom is, and how she was made, I will report, and I will not hide the mysteries of God from you, but I will investigate her from the beginning of her birth, and I will place the knowledge of her in the light, and will not pass over the truth.

Neither will I hold to the path that dwindles away with envy, because such a man will not partake in wisdom.

For the proliferation of the wise is sanity for the world, and a wise king is the mainstay of the people.

Therefore, receive instruction by my words, and it will benefit you.

Footnotes

(a)6:2 Throughout this book, reges, which does mean kings, could be understood more loosely as any type of ruler or leader at any level. The same is true for the term judges; it could be applied to anyone with a position of judgment or authority, in various circumstances.(Conte)

(b)6:3 The entertainment industry holds the attention of the crowds, and the news media please themselves by disturbing the nations. An understanding of present-day circumstances informs the translation, so that the meaning of the text remains fresh and relevant.(Conte)

(d)6:22 Sedibus literally means seats, but the context is seats of power. A seat of power could be any role or office of leadership or authority, not only the role of a king or head of state.(Conte)

(e)6:23 Or, choose the light of wisdom....(Conte)

An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by those that seek her.

Hear therefore, you kings, and understand. Learn, you judges of the ends of the earth.

Give ear, you rulers who have dominion over many people, and make your boast(a) in multitudes of nations,

because your dominion was given to you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High. He will search out your works, and will inquire about your plans,

because being officers of his kingdom, you didn’t judge rightly, nor did you keep the law, nor did you walk according to God’s counsel.

He will come upon you awfully and swiftly, because a stern judgment comes on those who are in high places.

For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested.

For the Sovereign Lord of all will not be impressed with anyone, neither will he show deference to greatness; because it is he who made both small and great, and cares about them all;

but the scrutiny that comes upon the powerful is strict.

Therefore, my words are to you, O princes, that you may learn wisdom and not fall away.

For those who have kept the things that are holy in holiness will be made holy. Those who have been taught them will find what to say in defense.

Therefore set your desire on my words. Long for them, and you princes will be instructed.

Wisdom is radiant and doesn’t fade away; and is easily seen by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.

She anticipates those who desire her, making herself known.

He who rises up early to seek her won’t have difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates.

For to think upon her is perfection of understanding, and he who watches for her will quickly be free from care;

because she herself goes around, seeking those who are worthy of her, and in their paths she appears to them graciously, and in every purpose she meets them.

For her true beginning is desire for instruction; and desire for instruction is love.

And love is observance of her laws. To give heed to her laws confirms immortality.

Immortality brings closeness to God.

So then desire for wisdom promotes to a kingdom.

If therefore you delight in thrones and sceptres, you princes of peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign forever.

But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare. I won’t hide mysteries from you; but I will explore from her first beginning, bring the knowledge of her into clear light, and I will not pass by the truth.

Indeed, I won’t travel with consuming envy, because envy will have no fellowship with wisdom.

But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world, and an understanding king is stability for his people.

Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.

Footnotes

(a)6:2 Or, in the multitudes of your nations