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Wisdom 6
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Chapter 6
II.
THE ORIGIN, NATURE AND EFFECTS OF WISDOM
The duty of kings to cultivate wisdom
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[*a]Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
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hear this, you who have thousands under your rule, who boast of your hordes of subjects.
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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.
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If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly nor observed the law, nor behaved as God would have you behave,
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he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty;
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the lowly will be compassionately pardoned, the mighty will be mightily punished.
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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;
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but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.
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Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress;
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for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.
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Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will instruct you.
Wisdom sought is Wisdom found
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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.
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Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.
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Watch for her early and you will have no trouble; you will find her sitting at your gates.
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Even to think about her is understanding fully grown; be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.
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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.
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Of her the most sure beginning is the desire for discipline, care for discipline means loving her,
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loving her means keeping her laws, obeying her laws guarantees incorruptibility,
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incorruptibility brings near to God;
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thus desire for Wisdom leads to sovereignty.
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If then, despots of nations, you delight in throne and sceptre, honour Wisdom, thus to reign for ever.
Solomon sets out to describe Wisdom
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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.
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Neither will I take blighting Envy as my travelling companion, for she has nothing in common with Wisdom.
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In the greatest number of wise men lies the world’s salvation, in a sagacious king the stability of a people.
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Learn, therefore, from my words; the gain will be yours.
Chapters of Wisdom
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
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