en_RV1895 - Wis 7 - Ozzuu Bible

¹ I myself also am [1]mortal, like to all, And am sprung from one [2]born of the earth, [3] the man first formed,

² And in the womb of a mother was I moulded into flesh in the time of ten months, Being [4]compacted in blood of the seed of man and pleasure that came with sleep.

³ And I also, when I was born, drew in the common air, And fell upon [5]the [6]kindred earth, Uttering, like all, for my first voice, the selfsame wail:

⁴ In swaddling clothes was I nursed, and [7]with watchful cares.

⁵ For no king had any other first beginning;

⁶ But [8]all men have one entrance into life, and a like departure.

⁷ [9]For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and there came to me a spirit of wisdom.

⁸ I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, [10]And riches I esteemed nothing in comparison of her.

⁹ Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, [11]Because all the gold of the earth in her presence is a little sand, And silver shall be accounted as clay before her.

¹⁰ [12]Above health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than light, [13]Because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.

¹¹ But [14]with her there came to me all good things together, And in her hands innumerable riches:

¹² And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leadeth them; Though I knew not that she was the [15]mother of them.

¹³ As I learned without guile, I impart [16]without grudging; [17]I do not hide her riches.

¹⁴ For she is unto men a treasure that faileth not, And [18]they that use it [19]obtain friendship with God, Commended to him [20]by the gifts which they through [21]discipline present to him.

¹⁵ [22]But to me may God give to speak [23]with judgement, And to conceive thoughts worthy of what [24]hath been given me; Because himself is one that guideth even wisdom and that correcteth the wise.

¹⁶ For in his hand are both we and [25]our words; [26]All understanding, and all acquaintance with divers crafts.

¹⁷ [27]For himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, To know the constitution of the world, and the operation of the elements;

¹⁸ The beginning and end and middle of times, The alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons,

¹⁹ The circuits of years and the [28] [29]positions of stars;

²⁰ [30]The natures of living creatures and the ragings of wild beasts, The violences of [31]winds and the thoughts of men, [32]The diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:

²¹ All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,

²² For she that is [33]the artificer of all things taught me, even wisdom. For there is in her a spirit quick of understanding, holy, [34]Alone in kind, [35]manifold, Subtil, [36]freely moving, [37]Clear in utterance, [38]unpolluted, Distinct, unharmed, Loving what is good, [39]keen, unhindered, [40]Beneficent,

²³ [41]loving toward man, Stedfast, sure, [42]free from care, All-powerful, all-surveying, And penetrating through all spirits That are quick of understanding, pure, most subtil:

²⁴ [43]For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; Yea, [44]she pervadeth and penetrateth all things by reason of her pureness.

²⁵ For she is [45]a [46]breath of the power of God, And a clear effluence of the glory of the Almighty; Therefore can [47]nothing defiled find entrance into her.

²⁶ For she is an [48]effulgence from everlasting light, And an unspotted mirror of the working of God, And an [49]image of his goodness.

²⁷ And she, being one, [50]hath power to do all things; And remaining in herself, [51]reneweth all things: And from generation to generation passing into holy souls She maketh men [52]friends of God and prophets.

²⁸ For nothing doth God love save him that dwelleth with wisdom.

²⁹ For she is fairer than the sun, And above [53]all [54]the constellations of the stars: Being compared with light, she is found to be before it;

³⁰ For [55]to the light of day succeedeth night, But against wisdom evil doth not prevail;