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Solomon Like Other Mortals

7I also am mortal, like everyone else,
a descendant of the first-formed child of earth;
and in the womb of a mother I was moulded into flesh,
² within the period of ten months, compacted with blood,
from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage.
³ And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air,
and fell upon the kindred earth;
my first sound was a cry, as is true of all.
⁴ I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths.
⁵ For no king has had a different beginning of existence;
⁶ there is for all one entrance into life, and one way out.

Solomon’s Respect for Wisdom

⁷ Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me;
I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
⁸ I preferred her to sceptres and thrones,
and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
⁹ Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
because all gold is but a little sand in her sight,
and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
¹⁰ I loved her more than health and beauty,
and I chose to have her rather than light,
because her radiance never ceases.
¹¹ All good things came to me along with her,
and in her hands uncounted wealth.
¹² I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them;
but I did not know that she was their mother.
¹³ I learned without guile and I impart without grudging;
I do not hide her wealth,
¹⁴ for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals;
those who get it obtain friendship with God,
commended for the gifts that come from instruction.

²² for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me.

The Nature of Wisdom

There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy,
unique, manifold, subtle,
mobile, clear, unpolluted,
distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen,
irresistible, ²³beneficent, humane,
steadfast, sure, free from anxiety,
all-powerful, overseeing all,
and penetrating through all spirits
that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle.
²⁴ For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;
because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
²⁵ For she is a breath of the power of God,
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
²⁶ For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
²⁷ Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
²⁸ for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
²⁹ She is more beautiful than the sun,
and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
³⁰ for it is succeeded by the night,
but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

8She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.

23When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
   observe carefully what^* is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
   if you have a big appetite.
³ Do not desire the ruler’s^* delicacies,
   for they are deceptive food.
⁴ Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
   be wise enough to desist.
⁵ When your eyes light upon it, it is gone;
   for suddenly it takes wings to itself,
   flying like an eagle towards heaven.
⁶ Do not eat the bread of the stingy;
   do not desire their delicacies;
⁷ for like a hair in the throat, so are they.^*
   ‘Eat and drink!’ they say to you;
   but they do not mean it.
⁸ You will vomit up the little you have eaten,
   and you will waste your pleasant words.
⁹ Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
   who will only despise the wisdom of your words.
¹⁰ Do not remove an ancient landmark
   or encroach on the fields of orphans,
¹¹ for their redeemer is strong;
   he will plead their cause against you.
¹² Apply your mind to instruction
   and your ear to words of knowledge.
¹³ Do not withhold discipline from your children;
   if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.
¹⁴ If you beat them with the rod,
   you will save their lives from Sheol.
¹⁵ My child, if your heart is wise,
   my heart too will be glad.
¹⁶ My soul will rejoice
   when your lips speak what is right.
¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
   but always continue in the fear of the Lord.
¹⁸ Surely there is a future,
   and your hope will not be cut off.