Wisdom of Solomon 8

Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things. ²I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired ^ato make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty. ³In that she is ^bconversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her. ⁴For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works. ⁵If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; ^cwhat is richer than wisdom, ^dthat worketh all things? ⁶And if ^eprudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she? ⁷And if a man love righteousness, her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and ^qfortitude: which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life. ⁸If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound ^fdark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the ^gevents of seasons and times. ⁹Therefore I purposed ^hto take her to me ^bto live with me, knowing that she would be a counseller of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief. ¹⁰For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, ⁱthough I be young. ¹¹I shall be found of a quick conceit ^kin judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of ^lgreat men. ^12mWhen I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall ⁿlay their hands upon their mouth. ¹³Moreover ^oby the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me. ¹⁴I shall set the people in order, and ^pthe nations shall be subject unto me. ¹⁵Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and ^qvaliant in war. ¹⁶After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness; and ^bto live with her hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.

¹⁷Now when I considered these things in myself, and ^rpondered them in mine heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom ^ois immortality; ¹⁸and great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me. ¹⁹For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit. ²⁰Yea rather, being good, ^sI came into a body undefiled. ²¹Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise ^tobtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I ^uprayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,

IX.