How is he now numbered among the children of God,

And his lot among the saints!

Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly that are living,

And youth that is soon perfected shall admonish the many years of an unrighteous man's old age.

Yea, they shall be greatly rewarded:

For God hath proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

WISDOM VI, VII

Wisdom is unto men a treasure that faileth not, And they that use it obtain friendship with God. 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.

An effulgence from everlasting light is she,
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.
She is initiated into the knowledge of God,
And she chooseth out for him his works.
Fairer is she 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;

But she reacheth from one end of the world to

the other with full strength,

And ordereth all things graciously.

Wisdom is easily beheld of them that love her, And found of them that seek her.

She forestalleth them that desire to know her, Making herself first known.

He that riseth up early to seek her shall have no toil,

For he shall find her sitting at his gates.

She goeth about, herself seeking them that are worthy of her,

And in their paths she appeareth unto them graciously,

And in every purpose she meeteth them:

And in all ages entering into holy souls,
She maketh them friends of God and prophets.

WISDOM VIII, IX

Now when I considered in my heart

How that in kinship unto wisdom is immortality, And in her friendship is good delight,

And in the labours of her hands is wealth that faileth not,

And in faithful communing with her is understanding,

And great renown in having fellowship with her words,

I went about seeking how to take her unto myself.

But perceiving that I could not otherwise possess wisdom except God gave her me,

And that it was a part of wisdom to know whose gift she is;

I pleaded with the Lord and earnestly besought him.

Then with my whole heart I prayed and said:
O God of the fathers, Lord of mercy,

Who madest all things by thy word,

Grant unto me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne,

And was present when thou wast making the world.

O send her forth out of thy 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 what man knoweth the counsel of God?

Or who hath conceived what the Lord willeth? For 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? For so were the ways of them that are on earth corrected,

And men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee.

ECCLESIASTICUS

ECCLESIASTICUS II

If thou comest to serve the Lord,
Prepare thy soul for temptation.

Set thine heart aright, and constantly endure,
And make not haste in time of trouble.
Cleave unto him, and depart not away,

That thou mayest be increased at thy latter end. Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully,

And be patient when thou are changed to a low estate.

For gold is tried in the fire,

And acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Put thy trust in him, and he will help thee; Order thy ways aright, and set thy hope on him.

Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
And turn not aside, lest ye fall.

Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in him;
And your reward shall fail not.

Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good,
And for everlasting gladness and mercy.
Look at the generations of old, and see:

Who did ever put his trust in the Lord, and was ashamed?

Or who did abide in his fear, and was forsaken? Or whom did he ever despise, that called upon

him?

For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy; And he forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.

But woe unto fearful hearts, and to faint hands, And to the sinner that goeth two ways!

Woe unto the faint heart! for it believeth not; Therefore shall it not be defended.

Woe unto you that have lost your patience! And what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?

They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts,

And will humble their souls in his sight, saying,
We will fall into the hands of the Lord,
And not into the hands of men;
For as his majesty is,

So also is his mercy.

ECCLESIASTICUS IV

Wisdom exalteth her children,
And layeth hold of them that seek her.
He that loveth her loveth life;

And they shall be filled with joy that seek her early.

He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; And wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.

They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One:

And them that love her the Lord doth love. Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: