Wisdom 6

¹Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man than a strong.

²Hear therefore ye kings, & understand, learn ye judges of the ends of the earth.

³Give ear ye that rule multitudes, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:

⁴because the power is given you of our Lord, and strength by the Highest, who will examine your works, and search your cogitations:

⁵because when you were the ministers of his Kingdom, you judged not rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor have walked according to the will of God.

⁶Horribly and quickly will he appear to you: because most severe judgement shall be done on them, that bear rule.

⁷For to the little one mercy is granted: but the mighty shall mightily suffer torments.

⁸For God will not except any man's person, neither will fear the greatness of any man: because he made the little and the great, & he hath equally care of all.

⁹But to the stronger more strong torment is imminent.

¹⁰To you therefore o kings are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall.

¹¹For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what they may answer.

¹²Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have discipline.

¹³Wisdom is clear, and such as never fadeth, and is easily seen of them that love her, and is found of them that seek her.

¹⁴She preventeth them that covet her, that she first may shew herself unto them.

¹⁵He that awaketh early to her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at her doors.

¹⁶To think therefore of her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.

¹⁷Because she goeth about seeking them that be worthy of her, and in the ways she will shew herself to them cheerfully, and in all providence she will meet them.

¹⁸For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.

¹⁹The care therefore of discipline, is love: and love is keeping of her laws: and the keeping of the laws, is the consummation of incorruption:

²⁰and incorruption maketh to be next to God.

²¹Therefore the desire of wisdom leadeth to the everlasting Kingdom.

²²If therefore you be delighted with thrones, and with sceptres, o ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.

²³Love the light of wisdom all ye that bear rule over peoples.

²⁴But what wisdom is, and how she was made, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but from the beginning of her nativity I will search out, and set the knowledge of her into light, and will not let pass the truth:

²⁵neither will I go with pining envy: because such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.

²⁶But the multitude of the wise is the health of the round world: and a wise king is the stability of the people.

²⁷Therefore take ye discipline by my words, and it shall profit you.