On Wisdom, the Holy Spirit - by King Solomon

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On Wisdom
(The words of King Solomon)

Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me:
and I called upon God, and the Spirit of Wisdom came upon me:
and I preferred Her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches as nothing in comparison of Her. Neither did I compare unto Her any precious stone: for all gold in comparison of Her, is as a little sand, and silver in respect to Her shall be I loved Her above health and beauty, and chose to have Her instead of light: for Her light cannot be put out. Now all good things came to me together with Her, and innumerable riches through Her hands, and I rejoiced in all these: for this Wisdom went before me, and I knew not that She was the Mother of them all. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and Her riches I hide not. For She is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of discipline. And God has given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because He is the guide of Wisdom, and the director of the wise: for in His hand are both we, and our words, and all Wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.
For He has given me the true knowledge of the things that are:
to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements,
the beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses,
and the changes of seasons, the revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,
the natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men,
the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots, and all such things as are hid and not foreseen,
I have learned: for Wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.

For in Her is the Spirit of Understanding:
Holy, One, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet,
loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hinders, beneficent, gentle, kind, steadfast, assured,
secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits, intelligible, pure, subtile.
For Wisdom is more active than all active things: and reaches everywhere by reason of Her purity.
For She is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emanation of the glory of the almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing comes into Her. For She is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness. And being but One, She can do all things: and remaining in Herself the same, She renews all things, and through nations conveys Herself into holy souls, She makes the friends of God and prophets. For She is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars:
being compared with the light, She is found before it. For after this comes night, but no evil can overcome Wisdom. She reaches therefore from end to end mightily, and orders all things sweetly.

Her have I loved, and have sought Her out from my youth, and have desired to take Her for my spouse, and I became a lover of Her beauty. She glorifies Her nobility by being conversant with God: yes and the Lord of all things has loved Her.
For it is She that teaches the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of His works.
And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than Wisdom, which makes all things?
And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than She of those things that are?
And if a man love justice: Her labours have great virtues; for She teaches temperance,
and prudence, justice, fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.

How blessed is the man who finds Wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
For Her profit is better than the profit of silver and Her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with Her.
Long life is in Her right hand; in Her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways and all Her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of Her, and happy are all who hold Her fast.
The Lord by Wisdom founded the earth, by Understanding He established the heavens.
By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.

My child, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake Her, and She will guard you; love Her, and She will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire Wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get Understanding.
Prize Her, and She will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace Her.
She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty."
Hear, my child, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many.
I have directed you in the way of Wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble.
Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard Her, for She is your life.

Does not Wisdom call, and understanding lift up Her voice?
On top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, She takes Her stand;
Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, at the entrance of the doors, She cries out:
Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts Her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets She cries out;

"How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
Turn to My reproof,
Behold, I will pour out My Spirit on you;
I will make My words known to you.
...he who listens to Me shall live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.

To you, O humanity, I call,
And My voice is to the children of humankind.
O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand Wisdom.
Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of My lips reveals right things.
For My mouth utters truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to My lips.
All the utterances of My mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
Take My instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
For Wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with Her.

I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
Counsel is Mine and sound wisdom;
I am Understanding, power is Mine.
By Me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
By Me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek Me will find me.

Riches and honor are with Me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And My yield better than choicest silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
To endow those who love Me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

The Lord possessed Me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;
While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,
When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having My delight in the children of humankind.
Now therefore, O sons, listen to Me,

For blessed are they who keep My ways.
Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
Blessed is the man who listens to Me,
Watching daily at My gates,
Waiting at My doorposts.
For he who finds Me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.
But he who sins against Me injures himself;
All those who hate Me love death."

Wisdom has built Her house,
She has hewn out Her seven pillars;
She has prepared Her food, She has mixed Her wine;
She has also set Her table;
She has sent out Her maidens, She calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:

"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!"

To him who lacks understanding She says,

"Come, eat of My food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding.
For by Me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you."