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In Praise of Wisdom

1All wisdom is from the Lord,
   and with him it remains for ever.
² The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,
   and the days of eternity—who can count them?
³ The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,
   the abyss, and wisdom^*—who can search them out?
⁴ Wisdom was created before all other things,
   and prudent understanding from eternity.^*
6 The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?
   Her subtleties—who knows them?^*
8 There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,
   seated upon his throne—the Lord.
⁹ It is he who created her;
   he saw her and took her measure;
   he poured her out upon all his works,
¹⁰ upon all the living according to his gift;
   he lavished her upon those who love him.^*

THE LETTER OF

James

Salutation

1James, a servant^* of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom

2 My brothers and sisters,^* whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; ⁴and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. ⁶But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; ^{7, 8}for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

9 Let the believer^* who is lowly boast in being raised up, ¹⁰and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.