The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 9 -

Solomon’s prayer for wisdom.

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

And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,

That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:

Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children:

For 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.

For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

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

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:

And 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.

Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:

For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.

So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is?

For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.

For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?

And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above:

And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?

For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.

Solomon’s prayer for wisdom.

“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who made all things by your word;

and by your wisdom you formed man, that he should have dominion over the creatures that were made by you,

and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, and execute judgment in uprightness of soul,

give me wisdom, her who sits by you on your thrones. Don’t reject me from among your(a) servants,

because I am your servant and the son of your handmaid, a weak and short-lived man, with little power to understand judgment and laws.

For even if a man is perfect among the sons of men, if the wisdom that comes from you is not with him, he will count for nothing.

You chose me to be king of your people, and a judge for your sons and daughters.

You gave a command to build a sanctuary on your holy mountain, and(b) an altar in the city where you live, a copy of the holy tent which you prepared from the beginning.

Wisdom is with you and knows your works, and was present when you were making the world, and understands what is pleasing in your eyes, and what is right according to your commandments.

Send her from the holy heavens, and ask her to come from the throne of your glory, that being present with me she may work, and I may learn what pleases you well.

For she knows all things and understands, and she will guide me prudently in my actions. She will guard me in her glory.

So my works will be acceptible. I will judge your people righteously, and I will be worthy of my father’s(c) throne.

For what man will know the counsel of God? Or who will conceive what the Lord wills?

For the thoughts of mortals are unstable, and our plans are prone to fail.

For a corruptible body weighs down the soul. The earthy tent burdens a mind that is full of cares.

We can hardly guess the things that are on earth, and we find the things that are close at hand with labor; but who has traced out the things that are in the heavens?

Who gained knowledge of your counsel, unless you gave wisdom, and sent your holy spirit from on high?

It was thus that the ways of those who are on earth were corrected, and men were taught the things that are pleasing to you. They were saved through wisdom.”

Footnotes

(a)9:4 Or, children

(b)9:8 Or, a place of sacrifice