Thou didst choose me before my brethren to be king of thy people, and to do judgement for thy sons and daughters. Thou gavest command to build a sanctuary in thy holy mountain, and an altar in the city of thy habitation, a copy of the holy tabernacle which thou preparedst aforehand from the beginning. And with thee is wisdom, which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou wast making the world, and which understandeth what is pleasing in thine eyes, and what is right according to thy commandments. Send her forth out of the holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory bid her come, that being present with me she may toil with me, and that I may learn what is well-pleasing before thee. For she knoweth all things and hath understanding thereof, and in my doings she shall guide me in ways of soberness, and she shall guard me in her glory. And so shall my works be acceptable, and I shall judge thy people righteously, and I shall be worthy of my father’s throne. For what man shall know the counsel of God? or who shall conceive what the Lord willeth? For the thoughts of mortals are timorous, and our devices are prone to fail. For a corruptible body weigheth down the soul, and the earthly frame lieth heavy on a mind that is full of cares. And hardly do we divine the things that are on earth, and the things that are close at hand we find with labour; but the things that are in the heavens who ever yet traced out? And who ever gained knowledge of thy counsel, except thou gavest wisdom, and sentest thy holy spirit from on high? And it was thus that the ways of them which are on earth were corrected, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee; and through wisdom were they saved. THE WISDOM OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH OR ECCLESIASTICUS =1= All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever. The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity, who shall number? The height of the heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom, who shall search them out? Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting. To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? and who hath known her shrewd counsels? There is one wise, greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting upon his throne: He created her, and saw, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works. She is with all flesh according to his gift; and he gave her freely to them that love him. The fear of the Lord is glory, and exultation, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give gladness, and joy, and length of days. Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and it was created together with the faithful in the womb. With men she laid an eternal foundation; and with their seed shall she be had in trust.