1 She reacheth therefore from end unto end mightily, and disposeth all things sweetly.
1 She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.
2 Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have sought to take her for my spouse, and I was made a lover of her beauty.
2 Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.
3 She glorifieth her nobility, having consociation with God: yea and the Lord of all hath loved her.
3 She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and the Lord of all things hath loved her.
4 For she is the mistress of the discipline of God, & the chooser of his works.
4 For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God and is the chooser of his works.
5 And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which worketh all things?
5 And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?
6 And if understanding do work: who is the worker of those things that are, more than she?
6 And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?
7 And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she teacheth sobriety, and prudence, and justice, and strength, than the which nothing is more profitable in life to men.
7 And if a man love justice: her labors have great virtues: for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
8 And if a man desire multitude of knowledge, she knoweth things past, & conjectureth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of words, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
8 And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.
9 I purposed therefore to bring her to me to live together: knowing that she will communicate unto me of good things, and will be a comfort of my cogitation & tediousness.
9 I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.
10 Ishall have for her sake glory with the multitudes and honour with the ancient being young:
10 For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honor with the ancients, though I be young:
11 and I shall be found sharp in judgement, and in the sight of the mighty I shall be marvelous, and the faces of Princes will marvel at me.
11 And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
12 Holding my peace they shall expect me, and whilst I speak many words, they shall lay their hands on their mouth.
12 They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on their mouth.
13 Moreover by her I shall have immortality: and I shall leave an eternal memory to them, that shall be after me.
13 Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.
14 Ishall dispose peoples, and nations shall be subject to me.
14 I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.
15 Horrible kings hearing shall fear me: in the multitude I shall seem good, and in battle strong.
15 Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.
16 Entering into my house, I shall rest with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company tediousness, but joy and gladness.
16 When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.
17 Thinking these things with myself, and recording in my heart, that immortality is in the kindred of wisdom,
17 Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,
18 and good delectation in her friendship, and in the works of her hands honesty without defect, and wisdom in the disputation of her talk, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to me.
18 And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.
19 And I was a witty child, and had gotten a good soul.
19 And I was a witty child, and had received a good soul.
20 And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
20 And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
21 And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, unless God gave it, this very thing also was wisdom, to know whose this gift was: I went to our Lord, and besought him, and said from my whole heart:
21 And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was, I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart: