1  Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily;

And sweetly doth she order all things.

2 I loved her, and sought her out from my youth,

I desired to make her my spouse,

And I was a lover of her beauty.

3 In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility:

Yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.

4 For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God,

And a lover of his works.

5 If riches be a possession to be desired in this life;

What is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?

6 And if prudence work;

Who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?

7 And if a man love righteousness,

Her labors are virtues:

For she teacheth temperance and prudence,

Justice and fortitude:

Which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.

8 If a man desire much experience,

She knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come:

She knoweth the subtleties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences:

She foreseeth signs and wonders,

And the events of seasons and times.

9 Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me,

Knowing that she would be a counselor of good things,

And a comfort in cares and grief.

10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude,

And honor with the elders, though I be young.

11 I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment,

And shall be admired in the sight of great men.

12 When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure,

And when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me:

If I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.

13 Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality,

And leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.

14 I shall set the people in order,

And the nations shall be subject unto me.

15 Horrible tyrants shall be afraid when they do but hear of me;

I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.

16 After I am come into my house, I will repose myself with her:

For her conversation hath no bitterness:

And to live with her hath no sorrow,

But mirth and joy.

17 Now when I considered these things in myself,

And pondered them in my heart,

How that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;

18 And great pleasure it is to have her friendship;

And in the works of her hands are infinite riches;

And in the exercise of conference with her, prudence;

And in talking with her, a good report;

I went about seeking how to take her to me.

19 For I was a witty child,

And had a good spirit.

20 Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

21 Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me;

And that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was;

I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him,

And with my whole heart I said,