1 God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, which madest all things with thy Word,
1 God¹ of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,
2 and by thy Wisdom didst appoint man, that he should have dominion of the creature, that was made by thee,
2 And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,
3 that he should dispose the round world in equity and justice, and execute judgement in direction of heart:
3 That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:
4 give me wisdom the assistant of thy seats, and repel me not from thy children:
4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children:
5 because I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man and of small time, and less to the understanding of judgement and laws.
5 ²For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws.
6 And if one be perfect among the children of men, and thy wisdom be absent from him, he shall be counted for nothing.
6 For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.
7 Thou hast chosen me king to thy people, and judge of thy sons and daughters:
7 ³Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:
8 and badest me build a temple in thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy habitation, a similitude of thy holy tabernacle, which thou didst prepare from the beginning:
8 And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:
9 and thy wisdom with thee, which knew thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the round world, and knew what was pleasing to thine eyes, and what was direct in thy precepts.
9 ⁴And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.
10 Send her from thy holy heavens, and from the seat of thy greatness, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:
10 Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labor with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:
11 for she knoweth all things & understandeth, and shall conduct me in my works soberly, & shall keep me with her might.
11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.
12 And my works shall be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the seats of my father.
12 So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.
13 For who of men is able to know the counsel of God? Or who can think what God will?
13 ⁵For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? Or who can think what the will of God is?
14 For the cogitations of mortal men be fearful, and our providences uncertain.
14 For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.
15 For the body that is corrupted burdeneth the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the understanding that thinketh many things.
15 For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.
16 And we do hardly conjecture the things that are in the earth: and the things that are in sight, we find with labour. But the things that are in the heavens who shall search out?
16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labor do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?
17 And thy sense who shall know, unless thou give wisdom, and send thy holy Spirit from on high:
17 And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above:
18 and so the paths of them that are on the earth, may be corrected, and men learn the things that please thee?
18 And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?
19 For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee o Lord from the beginning.
19 For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.