Wisdom of Solomon Chap. VI.

This excerpt is taken from The Apocrapha An American Translation by: Edgar J. Goodspeed. Vintage Books (A Division of Random House) New York. C. 1959. 1938.

1 Listen therefore, kings, and understand:
Learn this, judges of the ends of the earth;
2 Pay attention, rulers of people,
Who boast of multitudes of nations;
3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord,
And your sovereignty from the Most High.
He will examine your works and inquire into your plans;
4 For though you are servants of his kingdom, you have not 
judged rightly,
Or kept the Law,
Or followed the will of God.
5 He will come upon you terribly and swiftly,
For a stern judgment overtakes those in high places.
6 For the humblest man may be forgiven through mercy,
But the mighty will be mightily tested,
7 For the Lord of all will show no partiality,
And will not respect greatness,
For it was he who made small and great,
And he takes thought for all alike,
8 But a rigorous inquiry is in store for the powerful.
9 My words are addressed to you, therefore, you monarchs,
So that you may learn wisdom and not go astray;
10 For those who observe holy things in holiness will be made
holy,
And those who are taught them will have a defense to offer;
So desire my words,
Long for them, and you will be instructed.
12 Wisdom is bright and unfading,
And she is easily seen by those who lover her,
And found by those who search for her.
13 She forestalls those who desire her, by making herself
known first.
14 The man who rises early to seek her will not have to toil,
For he will find her sitting at his gates.
15 For to think of her is the highest understanding,
And the man who is vigilant for her sake will soon be free 
from care. 
16 For she goes about in search of those who are worthy of her, 
And she graciously appears to them in their paths,
And meets them in every thought. 
17 For the truest beginning of her is the desire for instruction,
And concern for instruction is love of her,
18 And love for her is the observance of her laws,
And adherence to her laws is assurance of immortality,
19 And immortality brings men near to God;
20 So the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.
21 If therefore you take pleasure in thrones and scepters,
monarchs of the people,
Honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever.
22 But what wisdom is and how she came to be, I will declare,
And I will not hide these secrets from you,
But I will trace her out from the beginning of creation,
And make the knowledge of her clear,
And I will not pass by the truth;
23 I will not travel with futile envy,
For it cannot associate with wisdom.
24 The multitude of the the wise is the salvation of the world,
And a prudent king is the stability of his people. 
25 So be instructed by my words and you will be benefited.