1 Like everyone else,I am destined to die.I too am a descendantof that man who was madefrom the soil of the earth.And my body took shapeinside my mother's womb.
2 For ten months I was there,growing in her bloodfrom seed left by my fatheras they were making love.
3 And when I was born,I breathed the same air as othersand touched the same earth.Like all other children,my first sound was a cry.
4 I was nursed with loveand dressed in baby clothes.
5 No rulers have their beginningany differently—
6 all enter life in the same wayand leave in the same way.
7 I asked God for Wisdomand for understanding,and my prayer was answered.
8 Nothing compares with Wisdom!And so I chose herover power and wealth.
9 In comparison with Wisdom,precious gems are nothing;gold is merely sand,and silver is simply clay.
10 I preferred Wisdom more thana healthy and handsome body;the brightest light grows dimwhen compared with her.
11 Wisdom brought me wealthand everything good.
12 I was pleased with allthat she brought me,though I failed to realizethat Wisdom was the source.
13 I sincerely studied,then freely shared the richesI learned from Wisdom.
14 Wisdom's treasures never end.God approves of her,and those who gain Wisdomare friends of God.
15 I pray that God will help meto say the right thingand to have thoughtsworthy of his gifts to me.God shows Wisdom the wayand instructs wise people.
16 Our lives and our words,our understanding and skillsare all in the hands of God.
17 From God came my knowledgeabout the universeand how its parts work;
18 about the way a calendaris determined;about the movement of the sunand the changing seasons;
19 about the way the yearscome and go on schedule;about the groups of stars
20 and the way animals behave,both tame and wild;about the motion of the windand the thoughts of humans;about all kinds of plantsand the value of roots.
21 I learned hidden mysteriesand things known to all,
22 because I was taught by Wisdom,who made everything.Wisdom is both intelligentand holy.Though one of a kind,she appears in many formsand is a spiritual beingthat moves freely about.Wisdom is clear and pure,spotless and innocent,and she loves goodness.Wisdom is sharp and victorious,
23 generous, helpful, dependable,and she never worries.Wisdom is all-powerful;she sees everythingand is ever presentwith those who are intelligent,pure, and truly spiritual.
24 Wisdom moves more easilythan anything elseand is so pure that she iseverywhere at once.
25 Wisdom is the breathof God's power,the true reflection of the gloryof God All-Powerful,and so she cannot be touchedby anything impure.
26 Wisdom is like a mirrorreflecting the eternal lightof God's deeds and goodness.
27 Though Wisdom is and remainsonly one being,she can do anythingand she renews all things.In each generation she entersthe souls of the faithful,making them into prophetsand friends of God,
28 since God's favorite peopleare those who live with her.
29 Wisdom is more beautiful thanthe sun and the stars.She is far superior to daylight,
30 because it turns to darkness,but she cannot be changedby the power of evil.