But to me may God give to speak with judgement, and to conceive thoughts worthy of what hath been given me; because himself is one that guideth even wisdom and that correcteth the wise. For in his hand are both we and our words; all understanding, and all acquaintance with divers crafts. For himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, to know the constitution of the world, and the operation of the elements; The beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons, The circuits of years and the positions of stars; The natures of living creatures and the ragings of wild beasts, the violences of winds and the thoughts of men, the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots: All things that are either secret or manifest I learned, For she that is the artificer of all things taught me, even wisdom. * * * * * For there is in her a spirit quick of understanding, holy, alone in kind, manifold, subtil, freely moving, clear in utterance, unpolluted, distinct, unharmed, loving what is good, keen, unhindered, Beneficent, loving toward man, steadfast, sure, free from care, all-powerful, all-surveying, and penetrating through all spirits that are quick of understanding, pure, most subtil: For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; yea, she pervadeth and penetrateth all things by reason of her pureness. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a clear effluence of the glory of the Almighty; therefore can nothing defiled find entrance into her. For she is an effulgence from everlasting light, and an unspotted mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. And she, being one, hath power to do all things; and remaining in herself, reneweth all things: and from generation to generation passing into holy souls she maketh men friends of God and prophets. For nothing doth God love save him that dwelleth with wisdom. For she is fairer than the sun, and above all the constellations of the stars: being compared with light, she is found to be before it; For to the light of day succeedeth night, but against wisdom evil doth not prevail; =8= But she reacheth from one end of the world to the other with full strength, and ordereth all things graciously. * * * * * Her I loved and sought out from my youth, and I sought to take her for my bride, and I became enamoured of her beauty. She glorifieth her noble birth in that it is given her to live with God, and the Sovereign Lord of all loved her. For she is initiated into the knowledge of God, and she chooseth out for him his works. But if riches are a desired possession in life, what is richer than wisdom, which worketh all things? And if understanding worketh, who more than wisdom is an artificer of the things that are?