Wisdom 9

¹ ‘God of our ancestors, Lord of mercy, who by your word have made all things,

² and in your wisdom have fitted man to rule the creatures that have come from you,

³ to govern the world in holiness and justice and in honesty of soul to wield authority,

⁴ grant me Wisdom, consort of your throne, and do not reject me from the number of your children.

⁵ ‘For I am your servant, son of your serving maid, a feeble man, with little time to live, with small understanding of justice and the laws.

⁶ Indeed, were anyone perfect among the sons of men, if he lacked the Wisdom that comes from you, he would still count for nothing.

⁷ You yourself have chosen me[*a] to be king over your people, to be judge of your sons and daughters.

⁸ You have bidden me build a temple on your holy mountain, an altar in the city where you have pitched your tent, a copy of that sacred tabernacle which you prepared from the beginning.

⁹ With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works, she who was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what agrees with your commandments.

¹⁰ Despatch her from the holy heavens, send her forth from your throne of glory to help me and to toil with me and teach me what is pleasing to you,

¹¹ since she knows and understands everything. She will guide me prudently in my undertakings and protect me by her glory.

¹² Then all I do will be acceptable, I shall govern your people justly and shall be worthy of my father’s[*b] throne.

¹³ ‘What man indeed can know the intentions of God? Who can divine the will of the Lord?

¹⁴ The reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions unstable;

¹⁵ for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind.

¹⁶ It is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth, laborious to know what lies within our reach; who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?

¹⁷ As for your intention, who could have learnt it, had you not granted Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from above?

¹⁸ Thus have the paths of those on earth been straightened and men been taught what pleases you, and saved, by Wisdom.’