Wisdom 6 • Rulers must seek wisdom — Greek text and reception

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Listen, then, kings, and understand;

learn, judges of the ends of the earth.

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Give ear, you who rule a multitude

and boast over crowds of nations;

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for your rule was given you by the Lord,

and your authority by the Most High,

who will examine your works and search out your plans.

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For though you were servants of His kingdom, you did not judge rightly,

nor keep law,

nor walk according to God’s purpose.

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He will come upon you terribly and swiftly,

for a severe judgment falls upon those in high position.

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For the least is pardonable through mercy,

but the powerful will be powerfully examined.

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For the Master of all will not shrink before anyone’s face

or show deference to greatness,

because He Himself made both small and great

and provides for all alike;

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but a forceful inquiry awaits the mighty.

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To you, therefore, rulers, my words are directed,

so that you may learn wisdom and not fall away.

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For those who keep holy things in holiness will be made holy,

and those instructed in them will find a defense.

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Desire my words, then;

long for them, and you will be instructed.

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Wisdom is radiant and unfading;

she is readily seen by those who love her

and found by those who seek her.

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She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.

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The one who rises early for her will not grow weary,

for he will find her sitting beside his gates.

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For to reflect upon her is the perfection of understanding,

and the one who keeps watch for her will soon be free from care;

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for she herself goes about seeking those worthy of her,

appears graciously to them on their paths,

and meets them in every thought.

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For her beginning is the truest desire for discipline,

and concern for discipline is love;

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love is the keeping of her laws,

and attention to laws is assurance of incorruption;

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and incorruption brings one near to God.

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Therefore desire for wisdom leads up to kingship.

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If, then, you delight in thrones and scepters, rulers of peoples,

honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever.

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What wisdom is and how she came to be, I will declare,

and I will not hide mysteries from you;

instead I will trace her from the beginning of her origin,

and bring the knowledge of her into the open,

and I will certainly not pass truth by.

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Nor will I travel with wasting envy,

for it will have no share with wisdom.

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A multitude of wise people is the world’s salvation,

and an understanding king is the stability of a people.

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Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will benefit.