Anonymous (Septuagint) · a new plain-English translation from the original language
1| Listen, then, you kings, and understand; learn well, you judges of the ends of the earth.
2| Give ear, you who rule over multitudes and pride yourselves on your throngs of nations.
3| For your sovereignty was given to you by the Lord, and your dominion by the Most High, who will examine your works and search out your plans.
4| Because though you were servants of his kingdom, you did not judge rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the counsel of God.
5| Terribly and swiftly he will confront you, for a harsh judgment falls upon those in high places.
6| For the lowliest is pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be tested mightily.
7| For the Master of all will not shrink before anyone, nor will he be overawed by greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he watches over all alike.
8| But upon the powerful a stern inquiry impends.
9| To you, then, O rulers, are my words directed, so that you may learn wisdom and not fall away.
10| For those who have kept holy things in holiness will be made holy, and those who have been taught them will find their defense.
11| Desire my words, then; long for them, and you will be instructed.
12| Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is readily seen by those who love her.
13| She goes ahead to make herself known to those who desire her.
14| Whoever rises early to seek her will not grow weary, for he will find her sitting at his gates.
15| For to set one's mind upon her is the perfection of understanding, and whoever keeps watch for her sake will soon be free of care.
16| Because she herself goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she appears to them graciously in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
17| For the truest beginning of her is the desire for instruction,
18| and care for instruction is affection, and such affection means holding fast to what she ordains, and holding fast to what she ordains secures incorruption,
19| and incorruption brings one near to God.
20| So then, desire for wisdom leads up to a kingdom.
21| If, then, you delight in thrones and scepters, you rulers of peoples, honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever.
22| Now what wisdom is, and how she came to be, I will declare, and I will not hide her mysteries from you; rather, I will trace her out from the beginning of her origin and bring her knowledge into the open, and I will not pass by the truth.
23| Nor will I travel in the company of consuming envy, for envy has no share in wisdom.
24| A multitude of the wise is the salvation of the world, and a prudent king is the stability of a people.
25| So then, be instructed by my words, and you will profit.