17 Wisdom begins when you sincerely want to learn. To desire Wisdom is to love her;
18 to love her is to keep her laws; to keep her laws is to be certain of immortality;
19 immortality will bring you close to God.
20 This desire for Wisdom can prepare you to rule a kingdom.
21 So then, you that rule the nations, if you value your thrones and symbols of authority, honour Wisdom so that you may rule for ever.
22 I will tell you what Wisdom is, and how she came to be. I will not keep anything secret. I will trace her history from the beginning and make knowledge of her open to all. I will not ignore any part of the truth.
23 No jealous desire to guard my own knowledge will make me hold back anything. Wisdom has nothing in common with such an attitude.