Chapter 9

1God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

2And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,

3That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:

4Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children:

5For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws.

6For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

7Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters.

8And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:

9And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.

10Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:

11For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.

12So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

13For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is?

14For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.

15For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

16And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?

17And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above:

18And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?

19For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.