The Praise of Wisdom[a]
24 Wisdom praises herself
and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.(A)
2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
3 “I came forth from the mouth of the Most High
and covered the earth like a mist.(B)
4 I encamped in the heights,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.(C)
5 Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
and traversed the depths of the abyss.(D)
6 Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
and over every people and nation I have held sway.[b](E)
7 Among all these I sought a resting place;
in whose inheritance should I abide?
8 “Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
and my Creator pitched my tent.
He said, ‘Encamp in Jacob,
and in Israel receive your inheritance.’(F)
9 Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.(G)
10 In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and so I was established in Zion.(H)
11 Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,
and in Jerusalem was my domain.(I)
12 I took root in an honored people;
in the portion of the Lord is my inheritance.(J)
13 “I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon
and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.(K)
14 I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi[c]
and like rosebushes in Jericho;
like a fair olive tree in the field
and like a plane tree beside water[d] I grew tall.(L)
15 Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume,
and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,
like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,
and like the odor of incense in the tent.(M)
16 Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,
and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17 Like the vine I bud forth delights,
and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit.[e](N)
19 “Come to me, you who desire me,
and eat your fill of my fruits.(O)
20 For the memory of me is sweeter than honey
and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.(P)
21 Those who eat of me will hunger for more,
and those who drink of me will thirst for more.
22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
and those who work with me will not sin.”
Wisdom and the Law
23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,
the law that Moses commanded us
as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.[f](Q)
25 It becomes full, like the Pishon, with wisdom
and like the Tigris at the time of the spring harvest.(R)
26 It fills up, like the Euphrates, with understanding,
and like the Jordan at harvest time.(S)
27 It pours forth instruction like the Nile,[g]
like the Gihon at the time of vintage.(T)
28 The first man did not know wisdom[h] fully,
nor will the last one fathom her.
29 For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea
and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.
30 I came forth like a canal from a river,
like a water channel into a garden.
31 I said, “I will water my garden
and drench my flower beds.”
And look, my canal became a river
and my river a sea.(U)
32 I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn,
and I will make it clear from far away.
33 I will again pour out teaching like prophecy
and leave it to all future generations.(V)
34 Observe that I have not labored for myself alone
but for all who seek wisdom.[i](W)
Footnotes
- 24.1This heading is included in the Gk text.
- 24.6Other ancient authorities read I have acquired a possession
- 24.14Other ancient authorities read on the beaches
- 24.14Other ancient authorities omit beside water
- 24.17Other ancient authorities add as 24.18: I am the mother of beautiful love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope; I give to all my children; these things are eternal for those who are named by him.
- 24.23Other ancient authorities add as 24.24: Do not cease to be strong in the Lord, cling to him so that he may strengthen you; the Lord Almighty alone is God, and besides him there is no savior.
- 24.27Syr: Gk It makes instruction shine forth like light
- 24.28Gk her
- 24.34Gk her
Cross references
- 24.1 : Prov 8.1–21
- 24.3 : Prov 2.6; Wis 7.25
- 24.4 : Bar 3.29
- 24.5 : Job 22.14; Prov 8.27
- 24.6 : Prov 8.31; Sir 1.10
- 24.8 : Bar 3.37
- 24.9 : Prov 8.22, 25
- 24.10 : Ex 31.3; 35.31
- 24.11 : Ps 78.67, 68; 87.2
- 24.12 : Deut 32.9; 1 Kings 8.53; Jer 10.16
- 24.13 : Ps 92.12; 104.16; Hos 14.5; Sir 50.10, 12
- 24.14 : Ps 92.12; Hos 14.6; Sir 39.13; 50.8, 12
- 24.15 : Ex 30.23, 34, 36; Jn 19.39
- 24.17 : Prov 8.19; Jn 15.1
- 24.19 : Isa 55.1
- 24.20 : Ps 19.10; 119.103
- 24.23 : Ex 24.3; Deut 4.1; 29.1, 2; 33.4; Jn 1.17
- 24.25 : Gen 2.11, 14; Sir 21.13
- 24.26 : Gen 2.14; Josh 3.15
- 24.27 : Gen 2.13
- 24.31 : Ezek 47.1–8
- 24.33 : Joel 2.28; Acts 2.18
- 24.34 : Sir 33.18