Kings Should Seek Wisdom

¹Hear, then, you kings, and understand;

learn, you who judge everyone on earth.

²Listen, you who rule over many people

and govern numerous nations.

³Your authority was given to you by the Lord,

and your power comes from the Most High.

He will examine your works

and scrutinize your plans.

⁴You are the servants of his kingdom,

but you have not judged justly.

You have not upheld the law of Moses

or lived according to the will of God.

⁵He will come against you terribly and quickly,

because severe judgment falls on those with great authority.

⁶To the lowly, mercy may be granted;

but those who are great will be greatly tested.

⁷For the Lord will not stand in awe of anyone,

nor will he step aside for greatness.

He made both the small and the great,

and he regards them all the same.

⁸But greater scrutiny awaits the powerful.

⁹So my words are directed to you, O kings,

in order that you may learn wisdom and not depart from it.

¹⁰For those who have treated the sacred with holiness

will be considered holy,

and those who have learned these things

will know how to defend themselves.

¹¹Therefore, be eager to hear my words;

long for them, and you will be instructed.

The Way to Wisdom

¹²Wisdom is glorious and never fades away.

She is easily seen by those who love her;

she is found by those who seek her.

¹³She is quick to show herself to all who desire her.

¹⁴Those who rise early to seek her will not find it difficult,

for they will find her sitting at the gate.

¹⁵Meditating upon wisdom brings perfect understanding,

and those who watch for her will soon be free from care.

¹⁶For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her;

she graciously shows herself to them in their daily activities

and meets them in every thought they have.

¹⁷The beginning of wisdom is a sincere desire for instruction,

and concern for instruction shows a love of wisdom.

¹⁸To love wisdom is to keep her laws,

and obeying her laws guarantees immortality.

¹⁹Immortality brings one near to God;

²⁰so the desire for wisdom is the way to acquire a kingdom.

²¹So if you kings desire thrones and scepters,

honor wisdom, and you will reign forever.

Wisdom’s Riches

²²Now I will tell what wisdom is

and how she came to be.

I will hide no secrets from you

but will trace her steps from the beginning.

I will bring knowledge of her to light

and not bypass the truth.

²³I will not allow myself to be consumed with envy,

for envy has nothing in common with wisdom.

²⁴A multitude of wise counselors brings salvation to the world,

and a wise king brings stability to his people.

²⁵Therefore, be instructed by my words,

and you will profit from them.