Wisdom 8

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Wisdom 8

1Wisdom reaches from one end to another mightily: and sweetly does she order all things.Διατείνει δὲ ἀπὸ πέρατος εἰς πέρας εὐρώστως, καὶ διοικεῖ τὰ πάντα χρηστῶς.

2I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.Ταύτην ἐφίλησα καὶ ἐξεζήτησα ἐκ νεότητός μου, καὶ ἐζήτησα νύμφην ἀγαγέσθαι ἐμαυτῷ, καὶ ἐραστὴς ἐγενόμην τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς.

3In that she is conversant with God, she magnifies her nobility: yes, the Lord of all things himself loved her.Εὐγένειαν δοξάζει συμβίωσιν Θεοῦ ἔχουσα, καὶ ὁ πάντων δεσπότης ἠγάπησεν αὐτήν.

4For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.Μύστις γάρ ἐστι τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπιστήμης, καὶ αἱρετὶς τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.

5If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that works all things?Εἰ δὲ πλοῦτός ἐστιν ἐπιθυμητὸν κτῆμα ἐν βίῳ, τί σοφίας πλουσιώτερον τῆς τὰ πάντα ἐργαζομένης;

6And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?Εἰ δὲ φρόνησις ἐργάζεται, τίς αὐτῆς τῶν ὄντων μᾶλλόν ἐστι τεχνίτης;

7And if a man love righteousness her labors are virtues: for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.Καὶ εἰ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαπᾷ τις, οἱ πόνοι ταύτης εἰσὶν ἀρεταί· σωφροσύνην γὰρ καὶ φρόνησιν ἐκδιδάσκει, δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἀνδρίαν, ὧν χρησιμώτερον οὐδέν ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ ἀνθρώποις.

8If a man desire much experience, she knows things of old, and conjectures aright what is to come: she knows the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foresees signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.Εἰ δὲ καὶ πολυπειρίαν ποθεῖ τις, οἶδε τὰ ἀρχαῖα καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα εἰκάζειν, ἐπίσταται στροφὰς λόγων καὶ λύσεις αἰνιγμάτων, σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα προγινώσκει, καὶ ἐκβάσεις καιρῶν καὶ χρόνων.

9Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.Ἔκρινα τοίνυν ταύτην ἀγαγέσθαι πρὸς συμβίωσιν, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἔσται μοι σύμβουλος ἀγαθῶν, καὶ παραίνεσις φροντίδων καὶ λύπης.

10For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honor with the elders, though I be young.Ἕξω διʼ αὐτὴν δόξαν ἐν ὄχλοις, καὶ τιμὴν παρὰ πρεσβυτέροις ὁ νέος.

11I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.Ὀξὺς εὑρεθήσομαι ἐν κρίσει, καὶ ἐν ὄψει δυναστῶν θαυμασθήσομαι.

12When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear to me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.Σιγῶντά με περιμενοῦσι, καὶ φθεγγομένῳ προσέξουσι, καὶ λαλοῦντος ἐπιπλεῖον, χεῖρα ἐπιθήσουσιν ἐπὶ στόμα αὐτῶν.

13Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.Ἕξω διʼ αὐτὴν ἀθανασίαν, καὶ μνήμην αἰώνιον τοῖς μετ ἐμὲ ἀπολείψω.

14I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject to me.Διοικήσω λαοὺς, καὶ ἔθνη ὑποταγήσεταί μοι.

15Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.Φοβηθήσονταί με ἀκούσαντες τύραννοι φρικτοὶ, ἐν πλήθει φανοῦμαι ἀγαθὸς, καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ ἀνδρεῖος.

16After I am come into my house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation has no bitterness; and to live with her has no sorrow, but mirth and joy.Εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου προσαναπαύσομαι αὐτῇ· οὐ γὰρ ἔχει πικρίαν ἡ συναναστροφὴ αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ ὀδύνην ἡ συμβίωσις αὐτῆς, ἀλλὰ εὐφροσύνην καὶ χαράν.

17Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied to wisdom is immortality;Ταῦτα λογισάμενος ἐν ἐμαυτῷ, καὶ φροντίσας ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀθανασία ἐν συγγενείᾳ σοφίας,

18And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me.καὶ ἐν φιλίᾳ αὐτῆς τέρψις ἀγαθὴ, καὶ ἐν πόνοις χειρῶν αὐτῆς πλοῦτος ἀνεκλιπὴς, καὶ ἐν συγγυμνασίᾳ ὁμιλίας αὐτῆς φρόνησις, καὶ εὔκλεια ἐν κοινωνίᾳ λόγων αὐτῆς, περιῄειν ζητῶν ὅπως λάβω αὐτὴν εἰς ἐμαυτόν.

19For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.Παῖς δὲ ἤμην εὐφυὴς, ψυχῆς τε ἔλαχον ἀγαθῆς,

20Yes rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.μᾶλλον δὲ ἀγαθὸς ὢν ἦλθον εἰς σῶμα ἀμίαντον.

21Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed to the Lord, and implored him, and with my whole heart I said,Γνοὺς δὲ ὅτι οὐκ ἄλλως ἔσομαι ἐγκρατὴς, ἐὰν μὴ ὁ Θεὸς δῷ, καὶ τοῦτο δʼ ἦν φρονήσεως τὸ εἰδέναι τίνος ἡ χάρις, ἐνέτυχον τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐδεήθην αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπον ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας μου,