Wisdom 9

Wisdom of Solomon 9

Prayer for Wisdom

¹“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,[#Gen 1.31; Ps 33.6; Jn 1.3]

who have made all things by your word

²and by your wisdom have formed humankind[#Gen 1.26, 28; Ps 8.6; 2 Esd 6.54]

to have dominion over the creatures you have made

³and rule the world in holiness and righteousness[#Wis 5.19]

and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,

⁴give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,[#v 10 ; 1 Kings 3.9; Prov 8.30; Jn 1.1]

and do not reject me from among your children.

⁵For I am your servant, the son of your female servant,[#1 Kings 3.7; Ps 86.16; 116.16]

a man who is weak and short-lived,

with little understanding of judgment and laws,

⁶for even one who is perfect among humans

will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.

⁷You have chosen me to be king of your people[#1 Chr 28.5; 2 Chr 1.9]

and to be judge over your sons and daughters.

⁸You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain[#2 Sam 7.13; Ps 99.9; Mt 25.24; Heb 8.5]

and an altar in the city of your habitation,

a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning.

⁹With you is wisdom, she who knows your works[#Prov 8.22–30; Wis 15.18; Jn 1.1–3]

and was present when you made the world;

she understands what is pleasing in your sight

and what is right according to your commandments.

¹⁰Send her forth from the holy heavens,[#v 4 ; Ps 20.6]

and from the throne of your glory send her,

that she may labor at my side

and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.

¹¹For she knows and understands all things,

and she will guide me wisely in my actions

and guard me with her glory.

¹²Then my works will be acceptable,

and I shall judge your people justly

and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

¹³For who can learn the counsel of God?[#v 17 ; Isa 40.13]

Or who can discern what the Lord wills?

¹⁴For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,

and our designs are likely to fail,

¹⁵for a perishable body weighs down the soul,[#2 Cor 5.1, 4]

and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.

¹⁶We can hardly guess at what is on earth,

and what is at hand we find with labor,

but who has traced out what is in the heavens?

¹⁷Who has learned your counsel[#v 13 ; Sir 1.6; 1 Cor 2.10, 11]

unless you have given wisdom

and sent your holy spirit from on high?

¹⁸And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,[#Wis 10.4; Bar 4.4]

and people were taught what pleases you

and were saved by wisdom.”