that way:

: my

and dwelt upon the earth : but would not leave me in the days the way

of knowledge have they of my trouble, and in the time not known,

of the proud, when there was 8 Nor understood the paths no help. thereof, nor laid hold of it: 2 I will praise thy name contheir children were far off from tinually, and will sing praise

with thanksgiving; and so my ( 9 Who hath gone up into prayer was heard : heaven, and taken her, and 3 For thou savedst me from brought her down from the destruction, and deliveredst me clouds ?

from the evil time: therefore 10 Who hath gone over the will I give thanks, and praise sea, and found her, and will thee, and bless thy name, O bring her for pure gold ? Lord. 11 No man knoweth her

4 When I was yet young, or way, nor thinketh of her path. ever I went abroad, I desired

12 But He that knoweth all wisdom openly in my prayer. things knoweth her, and hath 5 I prayed for her before the found her out with his under- temple, and will seek her out standing : He that prepared the even to the end. earth for evermore hath filled it 6 Even from the flower till with fourfooted beasts :

the grape was ripe hath my 13 He that sendeth forth heart delighted in her : foot light, and it goeth, calleth it went the right way, from my again, and it obeyeth him with youth up sought I after her. fear.

7 I bowed down mine ear a 14 The stars shined in their little, and received her, and gat watches, and rejoiced: when much learning. He calleth them, they say, Here 8 I profited therein, therewe be; and so with cheerful-fore will I ascribe the glory unness they shewed light unto to him that giveth me wisdom. him that made them.

9 For I purposed to do after 15 This is our God, and her, and earnestly I followed there shall none other be ac- that which is good; so shall I counted of in comparison of not be confounded. him.

10 My soul hath wrestled 16 The fear of the Lord is with her, and in my doings I all wisdom; and in all wisdom was exact: I stretched forth is the performance of the law, my hands to the heaven above, and the knowledge of his om- and bewailed my ignorances of nipotency.

her.

11 I directed my soul unto LESSON XL.

her, and I found her in pure

ness : I have had my heart joinI CALLED upon the Lord, the ed with her from the beginning, Father of my Lord, that he therefore shall I not be forsaken.

out money.

12 My heart was troubled in little sand, and silver shall be seeking her: therefore have I counted as clay before her. gotten a good possession.

4 I loved her above health 13 The Lord hath given me and beauty, and chose to have a tongue for my reward, and I her instead of light: for the will praise him therewith. light that cometh from her never

14 Draw near unto me, ye goeth out. unlearned, and dwell in the 5 All good things together house of learning.

came to me with her, and in15 Wherefore are ye slow, and numerable riches in her hands. what say ye of these things, see- 6 And I rejoiced in them all, ing your souls are very thirsty? because wisdom goeth before

16 I opened my mouth, and them: and I knew not that she said, Buy her for yourselves with- was the mother of them.

7 I learned diligently, and 17 Put your neck under the do communicate her liberally: yoke, and let your soul receive I do not hide her riches. instruction : she is hard at hand 8 For she is a treasure unto to find.

men that never faileth: which 18 Behold with your eyes, they that use become the friends how that I have had but little of God, being commended for the labour, and have gotten unto gifts that come from learning. me much rest.

9 God hath granted me to 19 Get learning with a great speak as I would, and to consum of money, and get much ceive as is meet for the things gold by her.

that are given me : because it 20 Let your soul rejoice in is he that leadeth unto wisdom, his mercy, and be not ashamed and directeth the wise. of his praise.

10 For in his hand are both 21 Work your work betimes, we and our words; all wisdom and in his time he will give you also, and knowledge of work

manship.

11 For he hath given me cerLESSON XLI.

tain knowledge of the things

that are, namely, to know how I PRAYED, and understanding the world was made, and the was given me: I called upon operation of the elements : God, and the spirit of wisdom 12 The beginning, ending, came to me.

and midst of the times : the 2 I preferred her before scep- alterations of the turning of the tres and thrones, and esteemed sun, and the change of seasons: riches nothing in comparison of 13 The circuits of years, and her.

the positions of stars : 3 Neither compared I unto 14 The natures of living creaher any precious stone, because tures, and the furies of wild all gold in respect of her is as a beasts : the violence of winds,

your reward.

:

:

and the reasonings of men : the order of stars : being compared diversities of plants, and the with the light, she is found be. virtues of roots :

fore it. 15 And all such things as 24 For after this cometh are either secret or manifest, night: but vice shall not prevail them I know.

against wisdom. 16 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: LESSON XLII. for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, one only, manifold, Wisdom reacheth from one end subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, to another mightily: and sweetplain, not subject to hurt, lov- ly doth she order all things. ing the thing that is good, 2 I loved her, and sought her quick, which cannot be letted, out from my youth, I desired to ready to do good,

make her my spouse, and I was 17 Kind to man, steadfast, a lover of her beauty. sure, free from care, having all

3 In that she is conversant power, overseeing all things, with God, she magnifieth her and going through all under- nobility: yea, the Lord of all standing, pure, and most subtil, things himself loved her. spirits.

4 For she is privy to the 18 For wisdom is more mov- mysteries of the knowledge of ing than

any

motion : she pass- God, and a lover of his works. eth and goeth through all things 5 If riches be a possession to by reason of her pureness. be desired in this life; what is

19 For she is the breath of richer than wisdom, that workthe power of God, and a pure eth all things ? influence flowing from the glory 6 And if prudence work; of the Almighty : therefore can who of all that are is a more no defiled thing fall into her. cunning workman than she ?

20 For she is the brightness 7 And if a man love righteof the everlasting light, the un- ousness, her labours are virtues: spotted mirror of the power of for she teacheth temperance and God, and the image of his good- prudence, justice and fortitude:

which are such things, as men 21 And being but one, she can have nothing more profitcan do all things : and remain- able in their life. ing in herself, she maketh all 8 If a man desire much expethings new : and in all ages rience, she knoweth things of entering into holy souls, she old, and conjectureth aright maketh them friends of God, what is to come : she knoweth and prophets.

the subtleties of speeches, and 22 For God loveth none but can expound dark sentences : him that dwelleth with wisdom. she foreseeth signs and won

23 For she is more beautiful ders and the events of seasons than the sun, and above all the and times.

ness.

9 Therefore I purposed to whose gift she was ;) I prayed take her to me to live with me, unto the Lord, and besought knowing that she would be a him, and with my whole heart counseller of good things, and a I said; comfort in cares and grief. 10 For her sake I shall have

LESSON XLIII. estimation

among

the multitude, and honour with the eld.

Prayer for Wisdom. ers, though I be young. O God of my fathers, and Lord

11 Moreover by the means of of mercy, who hast made all her, I shall obtain immortality, things with thy word, and leave behind me an ever

2 And ordained man through lasting memorial to them that thy wisdom, that he should come after me.

have dominion over the crea12 I shall set the people in tures which thou hast made, order, and the nations shall be 3 And order the world acsubject unto me.

cording to equity and righte13 Horrible tyrants shall be ousness, and execute judgeafraid, when they do but hear ment with an upright heart, of me; I shall be found good 4 Give me wisdom, that sitamong the multitude, and va- teth by thy throne ; and reject liant in war.

me not from among thy chil14 After I am come into mine dren: house, I will repose myself with 5 For I, thy servant and son her: for her conversation hath of thine handmaid, am a feeble no bitterness; and to live with person, and of a short time, her hath no sorrow, but mirth and too young for the under

standing of judgement and 15 Now when I considered laws. these things in myself, and pon- 6 For though a man be never dered them in my heart, how so perfect among the children of that to be allied unto wisdom is men, yet if thy wisdom be not immortality;

with him, he shall be nothing 16 And great pleasure it is regarded. to have her friendship; and in 7 Thou hast chosen me to the works of her hands are in- be a king of thy people, and a finite riches; and in the exer- judge of thy sons and daughcise of conference with her, pru- ters : dence ; and in talking with her, 8 Thou hast commanded me a good report; I went about to build a temple upon thy holy seeking how to take her to me. mount, and an altar in the city

17 Nevertheless, when I per- wherein thou dwellest, a resemceived that I could not other-blance of the holy tabernacle wise obtain her, except God which thou hast prepared from gave her me; (and that was a the beginning point of wisdom also to know 9 And wisdom was with thee:

and joy.

which knoweth thy works, and 14 For the thoughts of morwas present when thou madest tal men are miserable, and our the world, and knew what was devices are but uncertain. acceptable in thy sight, and 15 For the corruptible body right in thy commandments. presseth down the soul, and

10 O send her out of thy holy the earthy tabernacle weigheth heavens, and from the throne of down the mind that museth upthy glory, that being present on many things. she may labour with me, that I 16 And hardly do we guess may know what is pleasing un- aright at things that are upon to thee.

earth, and with labour do we 11 For she knoweth and un- find the things that are before derstandeth all things, and she but the things that are shall lead me soberly in my in heaven who hath searched doings, and preserve me in her out? power.

17 And thy counsel who hath 12 So shall my works be ac- known, except thou give wisceptable, and then shall I judge dom, and send thy Holy Spirit thy people righteously, and be from above ? worthy to sit in my father's 18 For so the ways of them seat.

which lived on the earth were 13 For what man is he that reformed, and men were taught can know the counsel of God ? the things that are pleasing unor who can think what the will to thee, and were saved through of the Lord is?

wisdom.

us :

Section XVIII.-History of the Jews. LESSON XLIV. bondage ? but they have pro

voked me unto wrath, and deAnd the word of the Lord came spised my counsels. unto me, saying,

5 Pull thou off then the hair 2 Go thy way, and shew my of thy head, and cast all evil people their sinful deeds, and upon them, for they have not their children their wickedness been obedient unto my law, which they have done against but it is a rebellious people. me; that they may tell their 6 How long shall I forbear children's children :

them, unto whom I have done 3 Because the sins of their so much good ? fathers are increased in them : 7 Many kings have I destroyfor they have forgotten me, and ed for their sakes ; Pharaoh have offered unto strange gods. with his servants and all his

4 Am not I even he that power have I smitten down. brought them out of the land. 8 All the nations have I deof Egypt, from the house of stroyed before them, and in the