7. Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me;I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
8. I preferred her to scepter and throne,And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
9. nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;Because all gold, in view of her, is a bit of sand,and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
10. Beyond health and beauty I loved her,And I chose to have her rather than the light,because her radiance never ceases.
11. Yet all good things together came to me with her,and countless riches at her hands;
12. I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader,though I had not known that she is their mother.
13. Sincerely I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share—her riches I do not hide away;
14. For she is an unfailing treasure;those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God,being commended by the gifts that come from her discipline.
15. Now God grant I speak suitablyand value these endowments at their worth:For he is the guide of Wisdomand the director of the wise.
16. For both we and our words are in his hand,as well as all prudence and knowledge of crafts.
17. For he gave me sound knowledge of what exists,that I might know the structure of the universe and the force of its elements,
18. The beginning and the end and the midpoint of times,the changes in the sun’s course and the variations of the seasons,
19. Cycles of years, positions of stars,
20. natures of living things, tempers of beasts,Powers of the winds and thoughts of human beings,uses of plants and virtues of roots—
21. Whatever is hidden or plain I learned,
22. for Wisdom, the artisan of all, taught me. For in her is a spiritintelligent, holy, unique,Manifold, subtle, agile,clear, unstained, certain,Never harmful, loving the good, keen,
23. unhampered, beneficent, kindly,Firm, secure, tranquil,all-powerful, all-seeing,And pervading all spirits,though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.