Wisdom of Solomon 6

^aHear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. ²Give ear, you that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. ³For ^bpower is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels. ⁴Because, being ^cministers of his kingdom, you have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God; ⁵horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places. ⁶For ^dmercy will soon pardon the meanest: but ^emighty men shall be mightily tormented. ⁷For he which is Lord over all ^fshall fear no man’s person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man’s greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and ^gcareth for all alike. ⁸But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.

⁹Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not ^hfall away. ¹⁰For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer. ¹¹Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed. ¹²Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, ⁱshe is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her. ¹³She ^jpreventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them. ¹⁴Whoso ^kseeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors. ¹⁵To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be ^lwithout care. ¹⁶For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought. ¹⁷For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love; ¹⁸and ^mlove is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption; ¹⁹and incorruption maketh us near unto God: ²⁰therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to ⁿa kingdom. ²¹If your delight be then in ^othrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, ⁿthat ye may reign for evermore. ²²As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth. ²³Neither ^pwill I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom. ²⁴But ^qthe multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people. ²⁵Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.

VII.