Wisdom of Solomon 7 — LXXSB
7Verse 1I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,Verse 2And in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.Verse 3And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.Verse 4I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.Verse 5For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.Verse 6For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.Verse 7Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.Verse 8I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.Verse 9Neither compared I to her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.Verse 10I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that comes from her never goes out.Verse 11All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.Verse 12And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goes before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.Verse 13I learnt diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.Verse 14For she is a treasure to men that never fails: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.Verse 15God has granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leads to wisdom, and directs the wise.Verse 16For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.Verse 17For he has given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:Verse 18The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:Verse 19The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:Verse 20The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:Verse 21And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.Verse 22For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtle, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which can’t be letted, ready to do good,Verse 23Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtle, spirits.Verse 24For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passes and goes through all things by reason of her pureness.Verse 25For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.Verse 26For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.Verse 27And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she makes all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she makes them friends of God, and prophets.Verse 28For God loves none but him that dwells with wisdom.Verse 29For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.Verse 30For after this comes night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.