VII. I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring aof him that was first made of the earth, 2 and in my mother’s womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, bbeing compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with csleep. 3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is dof like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do. 4 I was nursed in eswaddling clothes, and that with cares. 5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth. 6 For fall men have one entrance into life, and the like ggoing out. 7 Wherefore hI prayed, and understanding was given me: I icalled upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

8 I preferred her before ksceptres and thrones, and lesteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. 9 Neither compared I unto her any * mprecious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her. 10 I loved her above nhealth and beauty, and chose to have her oinstead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out. 11 pAll good things together came to me with her, and pinnumerable riches in her hands. 12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them. 13 I learned * diligently, and do communicate her * liberally: ppI do not hide her riches. 14 For she is qa treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use * qqbecome the friends of God, being rcommended for the gifts that come from rrlearning. 15 * God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that * are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise. 16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship. 17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements: 18 the beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of sthe turning of the sun, and the change of seasons: 19 the circuits of years, and the tpositions of stars: 20 the natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the ureasonings of men: the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots: 21 and all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know. 22 For wisdom, which is vthe worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, * one only, manifold, subtil, lively, wclear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, xloving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good. 23 Kind to man, stedfast, sure, yfree from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits. 24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness. 25 For she is the * breath of the power of God, and a pure * influence flowing from the glory of the zAlmighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her. 26 For she is athe brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted aamirror of the power of God, and bthe image of his goodness. 27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she * maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them cfriends of God, and dprophets. 28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. 29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the torder of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. 30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.