Wisdom 6
Kings and rulers are reminded that power comes from God and will be held accountable for their actions. They are urged to learn wisdom and justice, as those who rule justly will be justified, while the powerful will face great torment. Wisdom is pure, eternal, and available to those who seek her, and the desire for wisdom leads to an everlasting kingdom. Kings are advised to love wisdom in order to reign forever.
1Wisdom is better than power, and a prudent man is better than a powerful one2Therefore, hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you judges of the ends of the earth3Listen closely, you who hold the attention of the crowds, and who please yourselves by disturbing the nations4For power has been given to you from the Lord and strength from the Most High, who will examine your works and scrutinize your thoughts5For, when you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge correctly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk according to the will of God6Horribly and quickly he will appear to you, because he will make a severe judgment for those who are in charge7For, to the little, great mercy is granted, but the powerful will endure powerful torment8For the Lord will not exempt anyone’s character, nor will he stand in awe of anyone’s greatness, because he himself made the little and the great, and he is equally concerned for everyone9But a powerful torture pursues the powerful10Therefore, O kings, these, my words, are for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not perish11For those who have justly preserved justice will be justified, and those who have learned these things will find what to answer12Therefore, desire my words, love them, and you will have instruction13Wisdom is pure and never fades away, and is easily seen by those who love her and found by those who seek her14She anticipates those who desire her, so that she first reveals herself to them15Whoever awakens early to seek her, will not labor, for he will find her sitting at his door16Therefore, by thinking about her, understanding is perfected, and whoever remains watchful for her, will quickly be secure17For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she reveals herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all foresight18For the very true beginning of her is the desire for instruction19Therefore, the zeal for instruction is love, and love is the keeping of her laws, and the keeping of her laws is the perfection of incorruptibility20while incorruptibility makes us near to God21And so, the desire for wisdom leads to an everlasting kingdom22If, therefore, your delight is in thrones and scepters, O kings of the people, love wisdom, so that you may reign forever23love the light of wisdom, all you who lead the peoples24But what wisdom is, and how she was made, I will report, and I will not hide the mysteries of God from you, but I will investigate her from the beginning of her birth, and I will place the knowledge of her in the light, and will not pass over the truth25Neither will I hold to the path that dwindles away with envy, because such a man will not partake in wisdom26For the proliferation of the wise is sanity for the world, and a wise king is the mainstay of the people27Therefore, receive instruction by my words, and it will benefit you
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