IX. O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, awho hast made all things with thy word, 2 and ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should bhave dominion over the creatures which thou hast made, 3 and order the world according to cequity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart: 4 dgive me wisdom, ethat sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children: 5 for 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. 6 For 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. 7 iThou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters: 8 kthou 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. 9 And 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. 10 O 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. 11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me * in her power. 12 So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father’s seat. 13 qFor what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is? 14 For the thoughts of mortal men are * miserable, and our devices are but uncertain. 15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and rthe searthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. 16 And 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? 17 And qthy counsel who hath known, uexcept thou give wisdom, and usend thy Holy Spirit from above? 18 For 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.