Wisdom - The Old Testament

¹ 'God of our ancestors, Lord of mercy, who by your word have made the universe,

² and in your wisdom have fitted human beings to rule the creatures that you have made,

³ to govern the world in holiness and saving justice and in honesty of soul to dispense fair judgement,

⁴ grant me Wisdom, consort of your throne, and do not reject me from the number of your children.

⁵ For I am your servant, son of your serving maid, a feeble man, with little time to live, with small understanding of justice and the laws.

⁶ Indeed, were anyone perfect among the sons of men, if he lacked the Wisdom that comes from you, he would still count for nothing.

⁷ 'You have chosen me to be king over your people, to be judge of your sons and daughters.

⁸ You have bidden me build a temple on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city where you have pitched your tent, a copy of the holy Tent which you prepared at the beginning.

⁹ With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works, she who was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what agrees with your commandments.

¹⁰ Despatch her from the holy heavens, send her forth from your throne of glory to help me and to toil with me and teach me what is pleasing to you;

¹¹ since she knows and understands everything she will guide me prudently in my actions and will protect me with her glory.

¹² Then all I do will be acceptable, I shall govern your people justly and be worthy of my father's throne.

¹³ 'What human being indeed can know the intentions of God? And who can comprehend the will of the Lord?

¹⁴ For the reasoning of mortals is inadequate, our attitudes of mind unstable;

¹⁵ for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the mind with its many cares.

¹⁶ It is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth, laborious to know what lies within our reach; who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?

¹⁷ And who could ever have known your will, had you not given Wisdom and sent your holy Spirit from above?

¹⁸ Thus have the paths of those on earth been straightened and people have been taught what pleases you, and have been saved, by Wisdom.'