Wisdom of Solomon 6

1 ΑΚΟΥΣΑΤΕ οὖν, βασιλεῖς, καὶ σύνετε· μάθετε, δικασταὶ περάτων γῆς.

1 Hear therefore, O you⌃ kings, and understand; learn, you⌃ that be judges of the ends of the earth.

2 ἐνωτίσασθε οἱ κρατοῦντες πλήθους καὶ γεγαυρωμένοι ἐπὶ ὄχλοις ἐθνῶν·

2 Give ear, you⌃ that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.

3 ὅτι ἐδόθη παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡ κράτησις ὑμῖν καὶ ἡ δυναστεία παρὰ Ὑψίστου, ὃς ἐξετάσει ὑμῶν τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὰς βουλὰς διερευνήσει·

3 For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

4 ὅτι ὑπηρέται ὄντες τῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλείας οὐκ ἐκρίνατε ὀρθῶς, οὐδὲ ἐφυλάξατε νόμον, οὐδὲ κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπορεύθητε.

4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, you⌃ have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;

5 φρικτῶς καὶ ταχέως ἐπιστήσεται ὑμῖν, ὅτι κρίσις ἀπότομος ἐν τοῖς ὑπερέχουσι γίνεται.

5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgement shall be to them that be in high places.

6 ὁ γὰρ ἐλάχιστος συγγνωστός ἐστιν ἐλέους, δυνατοὶ δὲ δυνατῶς ἐτασθήσονται·

6 For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.

7 οὐ γὰρ ὑποστελεῖται πρόσωπον ὁ πάντων δεσπότης, οὐδὲ ἐντραπήσεται μέγεθος, ὅτι μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν ὁμοίως τε προνοεῖ περὶ πάντων·

7 For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man's person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he has made the small and great, and careth for all alike.

8 τοῖς δὲ κραταιοῖς ἰσχυρὰ ἐφίσταται ἔρευνα.

8 But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.

9 πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὖν, ὦ τύραννοι, οἱ λόγοι μου, ἵνα μάθητε σοφίαν καὶ μὴ παραπέσητε·

9 To you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that you⌃ may learn wisdom, and not fall away.

10 οἱ γὰρ φυλάξαντες ὁσίως τὰ ὅσια ὁσιωθήσονται, καὶ οἱ διδαχθέντες αὐτὰ εὑρήσουσιν ἀπολογίαν.

10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learnt such things shall find what to answer.

11 ἐπιθυμήσατε οὖν τῶν λόγων μου, ποθήσατε καὶ παιδευθήσεσθε.

11 Therefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and you⌃ shall be instructed.

12 Λαμπρὰ καὶ ἀμάραντός ἐστιν ἡ σοφία και εὐχερῶς θεωρεῖται ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγαπώντων αὐτὴν καὶ εὑρίσκεται ὑπὸ τῶν ζητούντων αὐτήν,

12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fades away: yes, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.

13 φθάνει τοὺς ἐπιθυμοῦντας προγνωσθῆναι.

13 She prevents them that desire her, in making herself first known to them.

14 ὁ ὀρθρίσας πρὸς αὐτὴν οὐ κοπιάσει, πάρεδρον γὰρ εὑρήσει τῶν πυλῶν αὐτοῦ.

14 Whoso seeks her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.

15 τὸ γὰρ ἐνθυμηθῆναι περὶ αὐτῆς φρονήσεως τελειότης, καὶ ὁ ἀγρυπνήσας δι᾿ αὐτὴν ταχέως ἀμέριμνος ἔσται·

15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watches for her shall quickly be without care.

16 ὅτι τοὺς ἀξίους αὐτῆς αὕτη περιέρχεται ζητοῦσα καὶ ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις φαντάζεται αὐτοῖς εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐν πάσῃ ἐπινοίᾳ ὑπαντᾷ αὐτοῖς.

16 For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, shows herself favourably to them in the ways, and meets them in every thought.

17 ἀρχὴ γὰρ αὐτῆς ἡ ἀληθεστάτη παιδείας ἐπιθυμία, φροντὶς δὲ παιδείας ἀγάπη,

17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;

18 ἀγάπη δέ τήρησις νόμων αὐτῆς, προσοχὴ δὲ νόμων βεβαίωσις ἀφθαρσίας,

18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed to her laws is the assurance of incorruption;

19 ἀφθαρσία δὲ ἐγγὺς εἶναι ποιεῖ Θεοῦ.

19 And incorruption makes us near to God:

20 ἐπιθυμία ἄρα σοφίας ἀνάγει ἐπὶ βασιλείαν.

20 Therefore the desire of wisdom brings to a kingdom.

21 εἰ οὖν ἥδεσθε ἐπὶ θρόνοις καὶ σκήπτροις, τύραννοι λαῶν, τιμήσατε σοφίαν, ἵνα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα βασιλεύσητε.

21 If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O you⌃ kings of the people, honour wisdom, that you⌃ may reign for evermore.

22 τί δέ ἐστι σοφία καὶ πῶς ἐγένετο, ἀπαγγελῶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψω ὑμῖν μυστήρια, ἀλλὰ ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς γενέσεως ἐξιχνιάσω καὶ θήσω εἰς τὸ ἐμφανὲς τὴν γνῶσιν αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ παροδεύσω τὴν ἀλήθειαν.

22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.

23 οὔτε μὴν φθόνῳ τετηκότι συνοδεύσω, ὅτι οὗτος οὐ κοινωνήσει σοφίᾳ.

23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.

24 πλῆθος δὲ σοφῶν σωτηρία κόσμου, καὶ βασιλεὺς φρόνιμος εὐστάθεια δήμου.

24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.

25 ὥστε παιδεύσθε τοῖς ρήμασί μου, καὶ ὠφεληθήσεσθε.

25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.