1 Now listen and learn,you kings and judges!
2 Listen, all of you rulers,who control many nations.
3 You received your authorityfrom the Lord Most High,and he will judge your deedsand your thoughts.
4 Although you were his servants,you disobeyed himand ruled unjustly.
5 So now the Lord will punish youboth quickly and harshlybecause you are in power.
6 God forgives ordinary people,but severely punishesthe high and the mighty.
7 The Lord created everyone—the powerful and the weak.God has no favorites;he isn't afraid of anyone,
8 and he requires rulersto answer for what they do.
9 I am speaking to you rulers,so that you will have wisdomand not sin against God.
10 If you want to belongto the Lord's holy peopleand to defend yourselfon the day of judgment,
11 then eagerly desire to learnall that I am teaching.
12 Wisdom shines brightlyand never fades.She is easily recognizedby those who love herand look for her.
13 Wisdom wants to be knownby those who desire her.
14 If you get up earlyto look for wisdomyou find her at your door.
15 Just thinking about Wisdomleads to full understanding,and caring about Wisdomwill soon set you freefrom all other cares.
16 Wisdom searches eagerlyfor those who are seeking,and she lets them find herin all of their thoughts.
17 If you really want Wisdom,then fall in love with herand desire to learn.
18 If you truly love Wisdom,you will obey her laws;then you will be sureof life after death.
19 And just as life after deathwill bring you near to God,
20 the desire for Wisdomwill protect your kingdom.
21 So if you want to rulefor a long time,you must respect Wisdom.
22 I will now tell you clearlythe full truth about herfrom the very beginning.
23 I won't be jealous or concealanything I know—that isn't the way of Wisdom.
24 The only hope for the worldis for many of us to be wise;indeed, a wise rulergives security to a nation.
25 So be guided by my teachings,and you will be successful.