- 1
Wisdom will praise her own soul, and will proclaim her glory in the midst of her people.
- 2
She will open her mouth in the congregation of the Most High, and proclaim her glory in the presence of his power.
- 3
“I came out of the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth as a mist.
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I lived in high places, and my throne is in the pillar of the cloud.
- 5
Alone I surrounded the circuit of heaven, and walked in the depth of the abyss.
- 6
In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I obtained a possession.
- 7
With all these I sought rest. In whose inheritance shall I lodge?
- 8
Then the Creator of all things gave me a command. He who created me made my tent to rest, and said, ‘Let your dwelling be in Jacob, and your inheritance in Israel.’
- 9
He created me from the beginning, before the ages. For all ages, I will not cease to exist.
- 10
In the holy tabernacle, I ministered before him. So I was established in Zion.
- 11
In the beloved city, likewise he gave me rest. In Jerusalem was my domain.
- 12
I took root in a people that was honored, even in the portion of the Lord’s own inheritance.
- 13
I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon, And like a cypress tree on the mountains of Hermon.
- 14
I was exalted like a palm tree on the sea shore, like rose bushes in Jericho, and like a fair olive tree in the plain. I was exalted like a plane tree.
- 15
Like cinnamon and aspalathus, I have given a scent to perfumes. Like choice myrrh, I spread abroad a pleasant fragrance, like galbanum, onycha, stacte, and as the smell of frankincense in the tabernacle.
- 16
Like the terebinth, I stretched out my branches. My branches are glorious and graceful.
- 17
Like the vine, I put forth grace. My flowers are the fruit of glory and riches.
- 19
“Come to me, all you who desire me, and be filled with my fruits.
- 20
For my memory is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance than the honeycomb.
- 21
Those who eat me will be hungry for more. Those who drink me will be thirsty for more.
- 22
He who obeys me will not be ashamed. Those who work with me will not sin.”
- 23
All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob.
- 25
It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits.
- 26
He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest,
- 27
who makes instruction shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage.
- 28
The first man didn’t know her perfectly. In like manner, the last has not explored her.
- 29
For her thoughts are filled from the sea, and her counsels from the great deep.
- 30
I came out as a canal stream from a river, and as an irrigation ditch into a garden.
- 31
I said, “I will water my garden, and will drench my garden bed.” Behold, my stream became a river, and my river became a sea.
- 32
I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning, and will make these things clear from far away.
- 33
I will continue to pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all generations.
- 34
See that I have not labored for myself only, but for all those who diligently seek wisdom.
Bible: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain, via eBible.org. Footnotes, section headings and acrostic letters are not reproduced.