The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

Further praises of wisdom: and her fruits.

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

Her 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.

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

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

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

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

And 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.

And 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.

I 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.

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

And 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.

They 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.

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

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

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

When 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.

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

And 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.

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

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

And 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:

Further praises of wisdom: and her fruits.

But she reaches from one end to the other with full strength, and orders all things well.

I loved her and sought her from my youth. I sought to take her for my bride. I became enamoured by her beauty.

She glorifies her noble birth by living with God. The Sovereign Lord of all loves her.

For she is initiated into the knowledge of God, and she chooses his works.

But if riches are a desired possession in life, what is richer than wisdom, which makes all things?

And if understanding is effective, who more than(a) wisdom is an architect of the things that exist?

If a man loves righteousness, the fruits of wisdom’s labor(b) are virtues, for she teaches soberness, understanding, righteousness, and courage. There is nothing in life more profitable for people than these.

And if anyone longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come. She understands subtleties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings. She foresees signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.

Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she is one who would give me good counsel, and encourage me in cares and grief.

Because of her, I will have glory among multitudes, and honor in the sight of elders, though I am young.

I will be found keen when I give judgment. I will be admired in the presence of rulers.

When I am silent, they will wait for me. When I open my lips, they will heed what I say. If I continue speaking, they will put their hands on their mouths.

Because of her, I will have immortality, and leave behind an eternal memory to those who come after me.

I will govern peoples. Nations will be subjected to me.

Dreaded monarchs will fear me when they hear of me. Among the people, I will show myself to be good, and courageous in war.

When I come into my house, I will find rest with her. For conversation with her has no bitterness, and living with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.

When I considered these things in myself, and thought in my heart how immortality is in kinship to wisdom,

and in her friendship is good delight, and in the labors of her hands is wealth that doesn’t fail, and understanding is in her companionship, and great renown in having fellowship with her words, I went about seeking how to take her to myself.

Now I was a clever child, and received a good soul.

Or rather, being good, I came into an undefiled body.

But perceiving that I could not otherwise possess wisdom unless God gave her to me— yes, and to know and understand by whom the grace is given— I pleaded with the Lord and implored him, and with my whole heart I said:

Footnotes

(a)8:6 Gr. she.

(b)8:7 Gr. her labors