Wisdom 6

¹Hear therefore, you kings, and understand.

Learn, you judges of the ends of the earth.

²Give ear, you rulers who have dominion over many people,

and make your boast^* in multitudes of nations,

³because your dominion was given to you from the Lord,

and your sovereignty from the Most High.

He will search out your works,

and will inquire about your plans,

⁴because being officers of his kingdom, you didn’t judge rightly,

nor did you keep the law,

nor did you walk according to God’s counsel.

⁵He will come upon you awfully and swiftly,

because a stern judgment comes on those who are in high places.

⁶For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy,

but mighty men will be mightily tested.

⁷For the Sovereign Lord of all will not be impressed with anyone,

neither will he show deference to greatness;

because it is he who made both small and great,

and cares about them all;

⁸but the scrutiny that comes upon the powerful is strict.

⁹Therefore, my words are to you, O princes,

that you may learn wisdom and not fall away.

¹⁰For those who have kept the things that are holy in holiness will be made holy.

Those who have been taught them will find what to say in defense.

¹¹Therefore set your desire on my words.

Long for them, and you princes will be instructed.

¹²Wisdom is radiant and doesn’t fade away;

and is easily seen by those who love her,

and found by those who seek her.

¹³She anticipates those who desire her, making herself known.

¹⁴He who rises up early to seek her won’t have difficulty,

for he will find her sitting at his gates.

¹⁵For to think upon her is perfection of understanding,

and he who watches for her will quickly be free from care;

¹⁶because she herself goes around, seeking those who are worthy of her,

and in their paths she appears to them graciously,

and in every purpose she meets them.

¹⁷For her true beginning is desire for instruction;

and desire for instruction is love.

¹⁸And love is observance of her laws.

To give heed to her laws confirms immortality.

¹⁹Immortality brings closeness to God.

²⁰So then desire for wisdom promotes to a kingdom.

²¹If therefore you delight in thrones and sceptres, you princes of peoples,

honor wisdom, that you may reign forever.

²²But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare.

I won’t hide mysteries from you;

but I will explore from her first beginning,

bring the knowledge of her into clear light,

and I will not pass by the truth.

²³Indeed, I won’t travel with consuming envy,

because envy will have no fellowship with wisdom.

²⁴But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world,

and an understanding king is stability for his people.

²⁵Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.