An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by
those that seek her.
6:1. Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a
strong man.
6:2. Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are
judges of the ends of the earth.
6:3. Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in
multitudes of nations:
6:4. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High,
who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts:
6:5. Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged
rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will
of God.
6:6. Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe
judgment shall be for them that bear rule.
6:7. For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall
be mightily tormented.
6:8. For God will not except any man’s person, neither will he stand in
awe of any man’s greatness: for he made the little and the great, and
he hath equally care of all.
6:9. But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.
6:10. To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may
learn wisdom, and not fall from it.
6:11. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified:
and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.
6:12. Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have
instruction.
6:13. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by
them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.
6:14. She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth
herself unto them.
6:15. He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall
find her sitting at his door.
6:16. To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he
that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.
6:17. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she
sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with
all providence.
6:18. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.
6:19. And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of
her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of
incorruption:
6:20. And incorruption bringeth near to God.
6:21. Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting
kingdom.
6:22. If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of
the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.
6:23. Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.
6:24. Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and
I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out
from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to
light, and will not pass over the truth:
6:25. Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not
be partaker of wisdom.
6:26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world:
and a wise king is the upholding of the people.
6:27. Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be
profitable to you.