Wisdom of Solomon 9

O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, ^awho hast made all things with thy word, ²and ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should ^bhave dominion over the creatures which thou hast made, ³and order the world according to ^cequity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart: ^4dgive me wisdom, ^ethat sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children: ⁵for ^fI thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and ^gtoo young for the understanding of judgment and laws. ⁶For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, ^hhe shall be nothing regarded. ⁷ⁱThou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters: ^8kthou hast commanded me to build a temple upon ^lthy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, ^ma resemblance of the holy tabernacle, ⁿwhich thou hast prepared from the beginning. ⁹And ^eowisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments. ¹⁰O send her out of thy ^pholy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee. ¹¹For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power. ¹²So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father’s seat. ^13qFor what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is? ¹⁴For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain. ¹⁵For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and ^rthe ^searthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. ¹⁶And ^thardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out? ¹⁷And ^qthy counsel who hath known, ^uexcept thou give wisdom, and ^usend thy Holy Spirit from above? ¹⁸For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and ^xwere saved through wisdom.

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