Wisdom of Solomon 7

1For I also am a mortal man, equal to all, and a descendant of the earth-born first-formed man; and in my mother’s womb I was molded into flesh.

2for a period of ten months, having been formed in blood from a man's seed and the pleasure accompanying sleep.

3And I too, when I was born, drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth that suffers alike with all; and my first voice was the same as everyone's, as I cried.

4I was brought up in swaddling cloths and with cares.

5For no king had a different beginning of birth.

6But there is one entrance into life for all, and an equal departure.

7Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given to me; I called upon God, and a spirit of wisdom came to me.

8I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I considered wealth as nothing in comparison with her;

9Nor did I compare to her any precious stone, because all gold in her sight is a little sand, and silver will be regarded as clay before her.

10I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because the radiance that comes from her never sleeps.

11But all good things came to me together with her, and in her hands was wealth beyond counting;

12And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she is their mother.

13And I learned without deceit, and I share without envy; I do not hide her wealth.

14For it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who have made use of it gained friendship with God, having been commended through the gifts that come from instruction.

15But may God grant me to speak with sound judgment and to think in a manner worthy of the things given, because he himself is both the guide of wisdom and the one who sets the wise right.

16For in his hand are both we and our words, and all understanding and knowledge of crafts.

17For he himself gave me unerring knowledge of the things that exist, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements,

18the beginning and end and middle of times, the changes of seasons and the shifts of times,

19the cycles of the years and the positions of the stars,

20the natures of animals and the tempers of wild beasts, the violence of winds and the reasonings of men, the varieties of plants and the powers of roots.

21and I came to know both what is hidden and what is plain;

22For wisdom, the craftswoman of all things, taught me. For in her is an intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, agile, clear, undefiled, distinct, unharmed, loving-the-good, keen, unhindered, beneficent spirit,

23humane, steadfast, secure, free from care, all-powerful, all-seeing, and passing through all intelligent, pure, most subtle spirits.

24For wisdom is more mobile than any movement, and because of her purity she passes through and penetrates all things.

25For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled enters into her.

26For she is a radiance of eternal light, and a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.

27Though she is one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself she renews all things; and passing into holy souls from generation to generation, she makes them friends of God and prophets;

28For God loves nothing except the one who dwells with wisdom.

29For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above every arrangement of the stars. Compared with the light, she is found to be earlier.

30For this is succeeded by night, but evil does not prevail against wisdom.