¹I, too, am mortal, like everyone else.

I am a descendant of the first man formed from the earth;

in my mother’s womb I was fashioned into a body.

²For nine months I developed,[#7:2 Greek For ten months. Ten months of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar is about equal to 9 months of the modern solar calendar.]

having come from the seed of man and the pleasure of marriage.

³When I was born, I breathed the air we all breathe

and was laid upon the earth that bears us all.

The first sound I uttered was a cry, as is true with everyone else.

⁴Snugly wrapped in strips of cloth, I was nursed with care.

⁵And no king had a beginning that was any different.

⁶For all people have one entrance into life,

and all have a common exit.

⁷So I prayed, and I was given understanding;

I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me.

⁸I preferred wisdom to power and kingship;

riches were as nothing compared to her.

⁹I did not compare her to any precious stone,

for gold is but a little sand in comparison to her,

and silver is as clay.

¹⁰I loved her more than health and beauty;

I preferred her even to light,

for her light cannot be extinguished.

¹¹All good things came to me along with her;

innumerable riches accompanied her.

¹²I rejoiced in all these things, because wisdom brought them to me,

though I did not know that wisdom was the mother of them all.

¹³I learned diligently, and I teach others freely.

I do not hide wisdom’s riches,

¹⁴for they are an infinite treasure to people.

Those who use wisdom’s riches become friends of God

and are commended for the benefits of learning.

¹⁵May God grant me the ability to speak wisely

and to think thoughts worthy of all I have learned.

He is the guide of wisdom

and the director of the wise.

¹⁶We and our words are in his hands

along with all knowledge and skills.

¹⁷For he has given me true knowledge of what exists.

I know how the world and the elements work.

¹⁸I know all the ages from beginning to end,

the movements of the sun and the changes of seasons.

¹⁹I know the cycles of the year and the various constellations,

²⁰the nature of animals and the instincts of wild beasts.

I know the power of spirits and the way people think,

the varieties of plants, and the roots that are beneficial.

²¹I know what is hidden and what is visible,

for wisdom, the designer of all things, taught me.

The Nature of Wisdom

²²Wisdom’s spirit is intelligent, holy, unique,

many-faceted, subtle, active,

clear, undefiled, certain,

sweet, benevolent, sharp,

irresistible,

²³helpful, kind,

firm, sure, and secure.

Wisdom’s spirit is all-powerful and oversees all things.

It permeates every intelligent, pure, and perceptive spirit.

²⁴Wisdom is more active than motion itself.

She pervades and permeates everything by her purity.

²⁵For she is a breath of God’s power,

a pure revelation of the glory of the Almighty.

Therefore, nothing that is defiled can reach her.

²⁶For she is the reflection of eternal light,

the spotless mirror of God’s power,

and the image of his goodness.

²⁷She is only one, but she can do all things.

She herself remains the same, but she renews all things.

In every generation she gives herself to holy souls,

making them prophets and friends of God.

²⁸For God loves none as much as those who dwell with wisdom.

²⁹She is more beautiful than the sun,

more wonderful than all the constellations of stars.

She is superior even to the sun’s light,

³⁰for daylight is followed by night,

but no evil can overcome wisdom.