¹“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,

you have made all things by your word.

²In your wisdom you formed people

to be masters over the creatures you made,

³to rule the world in holiness and justice,

and to pronounce judgment with a righteous heart.

⁴Give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,

and do not exclude me from being one of your servants.

⁵For I am your servant and the son of your servant girl,

a weak man with a short life

and little understanding of justice and laws.

⁶Even if there were a perfect human being,

without wisdom he would be regarded as nothing.

⁷You have chosen me to be king of your people

and judge over your sons and daughters.

⁸You told me to build a Temple on your holy mountain

and an altar in the city of your dwelling place—

a copy of the holy Tabernacle you prepared from the beginning.

⁹Wisdom, who resides with you, knows your works;

she was present when you made the world.

She knows what is pleasant in your sight

and what is right according to your commandments.

¹⁰Send her out from your holy heaven

and from the throne of your glory

so that she may work with me

and teach me what is pleasing to you.

¹¹For wisdom knows and understands all things;

she will guide me wisely in my actions

and guard me with her glory.

¹²Then my works will be acceptable,

and I will govern your people justly.

I will be worthy of the throne of my father.

¹³For what human being can know the counsel of God?

Who can discern the will of the Lord?

¹⁴The thoughts of mortals are fallible,

and our plans are uncertain.

¹⁵The mortal body weighs down the soul.

This earthly tent burdens the active mind.

¹⁶We can scarcely guess at what is on earth;

we struggle to understand what is within our reach.

So who can search out the things in heaven?

¹⁷Who could have known your plan

if you had not given wisdom

and sent your Holy Spirit from above?

¹⁸Through them, people on earth were guided on the right path.

The people were taught the things that please you,

and they were saved by wisdom.”