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.