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chapter 7
1
I
myself also am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was
first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be
flesh.
2 In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood,
of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.
3 And being born I drew in the common air, and fell
upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was
crying, as all others do.
4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great
cares.
5 For none of the kings had any other beginning of
birth.
6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like
going out.
7 Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me:
and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:
8 And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and
esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
9 Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone:
for all gold in comparison of her, is as a little sand, and silver in respect
to her shall be counted as clay.
10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to
have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.
11 Now all good things came to me together with her,
and innumerable riches through her hands,
12 And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went
before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.
13 Which I have learned without guile, and communicate
without envy, and her riches I hide not.
14 For she is an infinite treasure to men! which they
that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of
discipline.
15 And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to
conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the
guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:
16 For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all
wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.
17 For he hath given me the true knowledge of the
things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of
the elements,
18 The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times,
the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,
19 The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of
the stars,
20 The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild
beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants,
and the virtues of roots,
21 And all such things as are hid and not foreseen, I
have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.
22 For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy,
one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that
which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,
23 Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all
power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits, intelligible, pure,
subtile.
24 For wisdom is more active than all active things:
and reacheth everywhere by reason of her purity.
25 For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a
certain pure emanation of the glory of the almighty God: and therefore no
defiled thing cometh into her.
26 For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the
unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.
27 And being but one, she can do all things: and
remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations
conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.
28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with
wisdom.
29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above
all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before
it.
30 For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome
wisdom.
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