6
1 Hear therefore, you⌃ kings, and understand;
Learn, you⌃ judges of the ends of the earth:
2 Give ear, you⌃ that have dominion over much people,
And make your boast in multitudes of nations.
3 Because your dominion was given you from the Lord,
And your sovereignty from the Most High;
Who will search out your works,
And will make inquisition of your counsels:
4 Because being officers of his kingdom you⌃ did not judge aright,
Neither kept you⌃ law, nor walked after the counsel of God.
5 Awfully and swiftly will he come upon you;
Because a stern judgement befalleth those who are in high place:
6 For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy,
But mighty men will be searched out mightily.
7 For the Sovereign Lord of all will not refrain himself for any man’s person,
Neither will he reverence greatness;
Because it is he that made both small and great,
And alike he takes thought for all;
8 But strict is the scrutiny that comes upon the powerful.
9 To you therefore, O princes, are my words,
That you⌃ may learn wisdom and fall not from the right way.
10 For those who have kept holily the things that are holy will themselves be hallowed;
And those who have been taught them will find what to answer;
11 Set your desire therefore on my words;
Long for them, and you⌃ will be trained by their discipline.
12 Wisdom is radiant and fades not away;
And easily is she saw those who love her,
And found of those who seek her.
13 She forestalleth those who desire to know her, making herself first known.
14 He that rises up early to seek her will have no toil,
For he will find her sitting at his gates.
15 For to think upon her is perfectness of understanding,
And he that watches for her sake will quickly be free from care.
16 Because she goes about, herself seeking those who are worthy of her,
And in their paths she appears to them graciously,
And in every purpose she meets them.
17 For her true beginning is desire of discipline;
And the care for discipline is love of her;
18 And love of her is observance of her laws;
And to give heed to her laws confirmeth incorruption;
19 And incorruption brings near to God;
20 So then desire of wisdom promoteth to a kingdom.
21 If therefore you⌃ delight in thrones and sceptres, you⌃ princes of peoples,
Honor wisdom, that you⌃ may reign forever.
22 But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare,
And I will not hide mysteries from you;
But I will trace her out from the beginning of creation,
And bring the knowledge of her into clear light,
And I will not pass by the truth;
23 Neither indeed will I take pining envy for my companion in the way,
Because envy will have no fellowship with wisdom.
24 But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world,
And an understanding king is tranquillity to his people.
25 Wherefore be disciplined by my words, and thereby will you⌃ profit.