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The Book of Wisdon
Chapter 7
The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.
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I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh. |
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In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring. |
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And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do. |
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I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares. |
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For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth. |
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For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out. |
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Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me: |
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And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. |
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Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to her, shall be counted as clay. |
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I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out. |
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Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands, |
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And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all. |
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Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not. |
14 |
For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline. |
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And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise: |
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For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works. |
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For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements, |
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The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons, |
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The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars, |
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The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots, |
21 |
And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me. |
22 |
For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent, |
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Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, subtile: |
24 |
For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth everywhere, by reason of her purity. |
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For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her. |
26 |
For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness. |
27 |
And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets. |
28 |
For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. |
29 |
For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. |
30 |
For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom. |
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