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 labors 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 counselor of good things,
And a comfort in cares and grief.
10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude,
And honor 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,