Book of Wisdom (Apocryphal)

²²For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good, ²³Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits. ²⁴For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness. ²⁵For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her. ²⁶For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness. ²⁷And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets. ²⁸For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. ²⁹For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. ³⁰For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.

¹O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word, ²And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made, ³And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart: ⁴Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children: ⁵For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws. ⁶For though a man be never so 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 a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters: ⁸Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning. ⁹And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments. ¹⁰O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee. ¹¹For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.