8
1 But she * reacheth from one end of the world to the other with full strength,
And ordereth all things † graciously.
2 Her I loved and sought out from my youth,
And I sought to take her for my bride,
And I became enamoured of her beauty.
3 She glorifieth her noble birth in that it is given her to live with God,
And the Sovereign Lord of all loved her.
4 For she is initiated into the knowledge of God,
And she ‡ chooseth out for him his works.
5 But if riches are a desired possession in life,
What is richer than wisdom, which worketh all things?
6 § And if understanding worketh,
Who more than ** wisdom is an artificer of the things that are?
7 And if a man loveth righteousness,
†† The fruits of wisdom’s labour are virtues,
For she teacheth soberness and understanding, righteousness and courage;
And there is nothing in life for men more profitable than these.
8 And if a man longeth even for much experience,
She knoweth ‡‡ the things of old, and §§ divineth the things to come:
She understandeth subtilties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings:
She foreseeth signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.
9 I determined therefore to take her unto me to live with me,
Knowing that she is one who would *** give me good thoughts for counsel,
And ††† encourage me in cares and grief.
10 Because of her I shall have glory among multitudes,
And honour in the sight of elders, though I be young.
11 I shall be found of a quick conceit when I give judgement,
And in the presence of ‡‡‡ princes I shall be admired.
12 When I am silent, they shall wait for me;
And when I open my lips, they shall give heed unto me;
And if I continue speaking, they shall lay their hand upon their mouth.
13 Because of her I shall have immortality,
And leave behind an eternal memory to them that come after me.
14 I shall govern peoples,
And nations shall be subjected to me.
15 Dread princes shall fear me when they hear of me:
Among my §§§ people I shall shew myself a good ruler, and in war courageous.
16 When I am come into my house, I shall find rest with her;
For converse with her hath no bitterness,
And to live with her hath no pain, but gladness and joy.
17 When I considered these things in myself,
And took thought in my heart how that in kinship unto wisdom is immortality,
18 And in her friendship is good delight,
And in the labours of her hands is wealth that faileth not,
And in * assiduous communing with her is understanding,
And great renown in having fellowship with her words,
I went about seeking how to take her unto myself.
19 Now I was † a child of parts, and a good soul fell to my lot;
20 Nay rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.
21 But perceiving that I could not otherwise ‡ possess wisdom except God gave her me
(Yea and to know § by whom the grace is given, this too came of understanding),
I pleaded with the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,
* 8:1 Or, reacheth from end onward unto end mightily † 8:1 Or, unto good use ‡ 8:4 Some authorities read deviseth for him. § 8:6 The Greek text of this clause is perhaps corrupt. ** 8:6 Gr. she. †† 8:7 Gr. Her labours are. ‡‡ 8:8 Some authorities read how to divine the things of old and the things to come. §§ 8:8 Gr. conjectureth. *** 8:9 Or, hold counsel with me for good things, and...against cares and grief ††† 8:9 Or, exhort Or, advise ‡‡‡ 8:11 Or, mighty men §§§ 8:15 Gr. multitude. * 8:18 Gr. practice of communion. † 8:19 Or, a goodly child ‡ 8:21 This is the probable sense: the Greek text is perhaps defective. § 8:21 Gr. of whom is the grace.