THE WISDOM OF SALOMON 9 & 10


Salomon 9

A praise of Salomon to obtain wisdom.

O God of fathers, and Lord of mercy, which hast made all things with thy word,

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

And govern the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart.

Give me that wisdom, which sits by thy throne, and put me not out from among thy children.

For I thy servant, and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and yet less in the understanding of judgment and the laws.

And 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.

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

Thou hast commanded me to built a temple upon thine holy Mount, and an altar in the city, wherein thou dwell, a likeness of thine holy Tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning,

And thy wisdom with thee, which knows thy works, which also was when thou made the world, and which knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.

Send her out of thine holy heavens, and send her from the throne of thy majesty that she may be with me, and labor, that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight.

For she knows and understands all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my works, and preserve me by her glory.

So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I govern thy people righteously, and be meet for my father’s throne.

For what man 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 forecasts are uncertain,

Because a corruptible body is heavy unto the soul, and the earthly nation keeps down the mind that is full of cares.

And hardly can we discern the things that are upon earth, and with great labor find we out the things which are before us: who can then seek out the things that are in heaven?

Who can know thy counsel, except thou give him wisdom, and send thine Holy Spirit from above?

For so the ways of them which are upon earth, are reformed, and men are taught the things that are pleasant unto thee, and are preserved through wisdom.

Salomon 10

The deliverance of the righteous and destruction of the enemies comes through wisdom.

SHE preserved the first father of the world, that was formed, and kept him when he was created alone, and brought him out of his offense,

And gave him power to rule all things,

But the unrighteous in his wrath departed from her, and perished by killing his brother in his fury.

For whose cause the earth was overflown, but wisdom preserved it again, governing the just man by a little wood.

Moreover, when the nations were joined in their malicious confederacies, she knew the righteous, and preserved him faultless unto God, and kept him sure, because she loved him tenderly as a son.

She preserved the righteous, when the ungodly perished, when he fled from the fire that fell down upon the five cities.

Of whose wickedness the waste land that smokes, yet giveth testimony, and the trees that bear fruit that never comes to ripeness: and for a remembrance of the unfaithful soul, there stands a pillar of salt.

For all such as regarded not wisdom, had not only this hurt, that they knew not the things which were good, but also left behind them unto men a memorial of their foolishness, so that in the things wherein they sinned, they can not lie hid.

But wisdom delivered them, that served her.

When the righteous fled because of his brother’s wrath, she led him the right way, showed him the kingdom of God, gave him knowledge of holy things, made him rich in his labors, and made his pains profitable.

She saved him from the enemies, and defended him from them, that lay in wait, and she gave him the price in a mighty battle, that he might know that the fear of God is stronger then all things.

When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not, but delivered him from sin: she went down with him into the dungeon,

And failed him not in the bands, til she had brought him the scepter of there alm, and power against those that oppressed him, and them that had accused him, she declared to be liars, and gave him perpetual glory.

She delivered the righteous people and faults seed from the nations that oppressed them.

She entered into the soul of the servant of the Lord, and stood by him in wonders and signs against the terrible Kings.

She gave the Saints the reward of their labors, and led them forth a marvelous way: on the day time she was a shadow unto them, and a light of stars in the night.

She brought them through the red sea, and carried them through the great water,

But she drowned their enemies, and brought them out of the bottom of the deep.

So the righteous took the spoils of the ungodly, and praised thine holy Name, o Lord, and magnified thy victorious hand with one accord.

For wisdom opens the mouth of the dumb, and makes the tongues of babes eloquent.


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