Wisdom of Solomon 8

¹ Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily;

and sweetly doth she order all things.

² I loved her, and sought her out from my youth,

I desired to make her my spouse,

and I was a lover of her beauty.

³ In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility:

yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.

⁴ For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God,

and a lover of his works.

⁵ If riches be a possession to be desired in this life;

what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?

⁶ And if prudence work;

who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?

⁷ And if a man love righteousness,

her labours are virtues:

for she teacheth temperance and prudence,

justice and fortitude:

which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.

⁸ If a man desire much experience,

she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come:

she knoweth the subtleties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences:

she foreseeth signs and wonders,

and the events of seasons and times.

⁹ Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me,

knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things,

and a comfort in cares and grief.

¹⁰ For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude,

and honour with the elders, though I be young.

¹¹ I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment,

and shall be admired in the sight of great men.

¹² When 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 lay their hands upon their mouth.

¹³ Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality,

and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.

¹⁴ I shall set the people in order,

and the nations shall be subject unto me.

¹⁵ Horrible tyrants shall be afraid when they do but hear of me;

I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.

¹⁶ After I am come into my house, I will repose myself with her:

for her conversation hath no bitterness:

and to live with her hath no sorrow,

but mirth and joy.

¹⁷ Now when I considered these things in myself,

and pondered them in my heart,

how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;

¹⁸ and 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.

¹⁹ For I was a witty child,

and had a good spirit.

²⁰ Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

²¹ Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me;

and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was;

I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him,

and with my whole heart I said,