1But she ⁸²reacheth from one end of the world to the other with full strength,
And ordereth all things ⁸³graciously.

2Her I loved and sought out from my youth,
And I sought to take her for my bride,
And I became enamoured of her beauty.

3She glorifieth her noble birth in that it is given her to live with God,
And the Sovereign Lord of all loved her.

4For she is initiated into the knowledge of God,
And she ⁸⁴chooseth out for him his works.

5But if riches are a desired possession in life,
What is richer than wisdom, which worketh all things?

6⁸⁵And if understanding worketh,
Who more than ⁸⁶wisdom is an artificer of the things that are?

7And if a man loveth righteousness,
⁸⁷The fruits of wisdom’s labour are virtues,
For she teacheth soberness and understanding, righteousness and courage;
And there is nothing in life for men more profitable than these.

8And if a man longeth even for much experience,
She knoweth ⁸⁸the things of old, and ⁸⁹divineth the things to come:
She understandeth subtilties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings:
She foreseeth signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.

9I determined therefore to take her unto me to live with me,
Knowing that she is one who would ⁹⁰give me good thoughts for counsel,
And ⁹¹encourage me in cares and grief.

10Because of her I shall have glory among multitudes,
And honour in the sight of elders, though I be young.

11I shall be found of a quick conceit when I give judgement,
And in the presence of ⁹²princes I shall be admired.

12When I am silent, they shall wait for me;
And when I open my lips, they shall give heed unto me;
And if I continue speaking, they shall lay their hand upon their mouth.

13Because of her I shall have immortality,
And leave behind an eternal memory to them that come after me.

14I shall govern peoples,
And nations shall be subjected to me.

15Dread princes shall fear me when they hear of me:
Among my ⁹³people I shall shew myself a good ruler, and in war courageous.

16When I am come into my house, I shall find rest with her;
For converse with her hath no bitterness,
And to live with her hath no pain, but gladness and joy.

17When I considered these things in myself,
And took thought in my heart how that in kinship unto wisdom is immortality,

18And in her friendship is good delight,
And in the labours of her hands is wealth that faileth not,
And in ⁹⁴assiduous communing with her is understanding,
And great renown in having fellowship with her words,
I went about seeking how to take her unto myself.

19Now I was ⁹⁵a child of parts, and a good soul fell to my lot;

20Nay rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

21But perceiving that I could not otherwise ⁹⁶possess wisdom except God gave her me
(Yea and to know ⁹⁷by whom the grace is given, this too came of understanding),
I pleaded with the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,