Wisdom of Solomon 9

1 O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, ¹who hast made all things with thy word.

2 And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should ²have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,

3 And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

4 Give ³me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:

5 For I ⁴thy servant, and son of thy handmaid, am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.

6 For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

7 Thou hast chosen me to be a ⁵king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

8 Thou hast commanded me to ⁶build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.

9 And ⁷wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, ⁸and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.

10 O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.

11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me ⁹in her power.

12 So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.

13 For ^*what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?

14 For the thoughts of mortal men are ^†miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.

15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and ^‡the earthly tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.

16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are ^||before us: ¹but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?

17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy ²Holy Spirit from above?

18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are ¹pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom.