Wisdom 6

¹ [*a]Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;

² hear this, you who have thousands under your rule, who boast of your hordes of subjects.

³ For power is a gift to you from the Lord, sovereignty is from the Most High; he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.

⁴ If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly nor observed the law, nor behaved as God would have you behave,

⁵ he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty;

⁶ the lowly will be compassionately pardoned, the mighty will be mightily punished.

⁷ For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all alike;

⁸ but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.

⁹ Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress;

¹⁰ for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.

¹¹ Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will instruct you.

¹² Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim. By those who love her she is readily seen, and found by those who look for her.

¹³ Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.

¹⁴ Watch for her early and you will have no trouble; you will find her sitting at your gates.

¹⁵ Even to think about her is understanding fully grown; be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.

¹⁶ She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her and graciously shows herself to them as they go, in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.

¹⁷ Of her the most sure beginning is the desire for discipline, care for discipline means loving her,

¹⁸ loving her means keeping her laws, obeying her laws guarantees incorruptibility,

¹⁹ incorruptibility brings near to God;

²⁰ thus desire for Wisdom leads to sovereignty.

²¹ If then, despots of nations, you delight in throne and sceptre, honour Wisdom, thus to reign for ever.

²² What Wisdom is and how she came to be, I will now declare, I will hide none of the secrets from you; I will trace her right from the beginning and set out knowledge of her, plainly, not swerving from the truth.

²³ Neither will I take blighting Envy as my travelling companion, for she has nothing in common with Wisdom.

²⁴ In the greatest number of wise men lies the world’s salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of a people.

²⁵ Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.