Wisdom of Solomon 7

1 I too am a mortal human being, equal to everyone, a descendant of the first-formed man born from the earth. I was fashioned as flesh in my mother’s womb. 2 Over ten months I was formed in blood from a man’s seed and the pleasure that came with sleep. 3 When I was born, I drew in the air we all share and fell upon the earth that shares our lot. Crying like everyone else, I uttered my first sound. 4 I was raised in swaddling clothes and with many cares. 5 No king has had any other beginning of life. 6 Everyone has one entrance into life and an equal departure from it.

7 Therefore I prayed, and discernment was given to me. I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her to scepters and thrones and considered riches nothing in comparison with her. 9 I did not compare any priceless stone with her, because all gold is only a little sand in her sight, and silver will be considered clay before her. 10 I loved her more than health and beauty and chose to have her instead of light, because the radiance that comes from her never sleeps. 11 All good things came to me together with her, and immeasurable wealth was in her hands. 12 I rejoiced in them all because wisdom leads them, though I did not know that she was their mother. 13 I learned without deceit and share without envy; I do not hide her wealth. 14 She is an unfailing treasure for human beings. Those who acquire it gain friendship with God, commended because of the gifts that come from instruction.

15 May God grant me to speak with sound judgment and to think worthily about what has been given, because he is the guide of wisdom and the director of the wise. 16 Both we and our words are in his hand, along with all discernment and knowledge of craftsmanship. 17 He gave me unerring knowledge of the things that exist: to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements, 18 the beginning, end, and middle of times, the changes of the sun’s turning points and variations of seasons, 19 the cycles of years and positions of stars, 20 the natures of living beings and tempers of wild animals, the force of winds and the reasonings of human beings, the varieties of plants and the powers of roots. 21 I learned everything hidden and visible, because Wisdom, who crafts all things, taught me.

22 Within her is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, one-of-a-kind, manifold, subtle, quick-moving, clear, undefiled, distinct, unharmed, loving what is good, and keen; 23 unobstructed, beneficial, loving toward humanity, firm, secure, free from care, all-powerful, overseeing all things, and penetrating all spirits that are intelligent, pure, and extremely subtle. 24 Wisdom is more active than any motion. Because of her purity, she pervades and passes through everything. 25 She is the breath of God’s power and a pure outflow from the Almighty’s glory. Therefore nothing defiled enters her. † 26 She is the radiance of everlasting light, a spotless mirror of God’s activity, and an image of his goodness.

27 Though she is one, she can do everything. Remaining in herself, she renews all things; generation after generation, she enters holy souls and makes them friends of God and prophets. 28 God loves nothing except the person who lives with wisdom. 29 She is more beautiful than the sun and above every arrangement of stars. Compared with light, she comes before it, 30 because night succeeds light, but evil cannot overcome wisdom.