1She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,

and she orders all things well.

Solomon's Love for Wisdom

2I loved her and sought her from my youth;

I desired to take her for my bride,

and became enamoured of her beauty.

3She glorifies her noble birth by living with God,

and the Lord of all loves her.

4For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God,

and an associate in his works.

5If riches are a desirable possession in life,

what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things?

6And if understanding is effective,

who more than she is fashioner of what exists?

7And if anyone loves righteousness,

her labours are virtues;

for she teaches self-control and prudence,

justice and courage;

nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these.

8And if anyone longs for wide experience,

she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come;

she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles;

she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders

and of the outcome of seasons and times.

Wisdom Indispensable to Rulers

9Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,

knowing that she would give me good counsel

and encouragement in cares and grief.

10Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes

and honour in the presence of the elders, though I am young.

11I shall be found keen in judgement,

and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.

12When I am silent they will wait for me,

and when I speak they will give heed;

if I speak at greater length,

they will put their hands on their mouths.

13Because of her I shall have immortality,

and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.

14I shall govern peoples,

and nations will be subject to me;

15dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me;

among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.

16When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her;

for companionship with her has no bitterness,

and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.

17When I considered these things inwardly,

and pondered in my heart

that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,

18and in friendship with her, pure delight,

and in the labours of her hands, unfailing wealth,

and in the experience of her company, understanding,

and renown in sharing her words,

I went about seeking how to get her for myself.

19As a child I was naturally gifted,

and a good soul fell to my lot;

20or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.

21But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—

and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was—

so I appealed to the Lord and implored him,

and with my whole heart I said: