shall not be
partaker of wisdom.

6:26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world:
and a wise king is the upholding of the people.

6:27. Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be
profitable to you.

Wisdom Chapter 7

The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.

7:1. I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him,
that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was
fashioned to be flesh.

7:2. In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of
man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.

7:3. And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth,
that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as
all others do.

7:4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.

7:5. For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

7:6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

7:7. Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called
upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:

7:8. And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed
riches nothing in comparison of her.

7:9. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, in
comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to her,
shall be counted as clay.

7:10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead
of light: for her light cannot be put out.

7:11. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable
riches through her hands,

7:12. And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I
knew not that she was the mother of them all.

7:13. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy,
and her riches I hide not.

7:14. For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use,
become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.

7:15. And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive
thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the
guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:

7:16. For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and
the knowledge and skill of works.

7:17. For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to
know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the
elements,

7:18. The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations
of t