Wisdom of Solomon 6

1Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.

ἀκούσατε οὖν βασιλεῖς καὶ σύνετε μάθετε δικασταὶ περάτων γῆς

2Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, And take pride in yourself over a multitude of nations.

ἐνωτίσασθε οἱ κρατοῦντες πλήθους καὶ γεγαυρωμένοι ἐπὶ ὄχλοις ἐθνῶν

3For power was given to you from the Lord, And your lordship from the Most High, Who will make a careful search of your works And examine closely your plans.

ὅτι ἐδόθη παρὰ κυρίου ἡ κράτησις ὑμῖν καὶ ἡ δυναστεία παρὰ ὑψίστου ὃς ἐξετάσει ὑμῶν τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὰς βουλὰς διερευνήσει

4Because as servants of His kingdom, You did not judge rightly; Neither did you keep His law, Nor did you walk according to the plan of God;

ὅτι ὑπηρέται ὄντες τῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλείας οὐκ ἐκρίνατε ὀρθῶς οὐδὲ ἐφυλάξατε νόμον οὐδὲ κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπορεύθητε

5He shall come upon you terribly and quickly, Because severe judgment falls on those who govern.

φρικτῶς καὶ ταχέως ἐπιστήσεται ὑμῖν ὅτι κρίσις ἀπότομος ἐν τοῖς ὑπερέχουσιν γίνεται

6For the least is pardoned in mercy, But the powerful shall be strongly examined.

ὁ γὰρ ἐλάχιστος συγγνωστός ἐστιν ἐλέους δυνατοὶ δὲ δυνατῶς ἐτασθήσονται

7For the Master of all will not shrink back From anyone's presence, Nor respect greatness; Because He Himself made both small and great, And cares for all alike.

οὐ γὰρ ὑποστελεῖται πρόσωπον ὁ πάντων δεσπότης οὐδὲ ἐντραπήσεται μέγεθος ὅτι μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν ὁμοίως τε προνοεῖ περὶ πάντων

8But a strict inquiry is imminent for the mighty.

τοῖς δὲ κραταιοῖς ἰσχυρὰ ἐφίσταται ἔρευνα

9Therefore to you, O tyrants, my words are directed, That you may learn wisdom and not fall away.

πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὖν ὦ τύραννοι οἱ λόγοι μου ἵνα μάθητε σοφίαν καὶ μὴ παραπέσητε

10For they will be made holy who keep holy things piously, And those who are taught holy things will find a defense.

οἱ γὰρ φυλάξαντες ὁσίως τὰ ὅσια ὁσιωθήσονται καὶ οἱ διδαχθέντες αὐτὰ εὑρήσουσιν ἀπολογίαν

11Therefore long for my words; Yearn for them, and you will be instructed.

ἐπιθυμήσατε οὖν τῶν λόγων μου ποθήσατε καὶ παιδευθήσεσθε

12Wisdom is radiant and unfading And is easily perceived by those who love her; For she is found by those who seek her.

λαμπρὰ καὶ ἀμάραντός ἐστιν ἡ σοφία καὶ εὐχερῶς θεωρεῖται ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγαπώντων αὐτὴν καὶ εὑρίσκεται ὑπὸ τῶν ζητούντων αὐτήν

13She comes upon those who long to know her beforehand.

φθάνει τοὺς ἐπιθυμοῦντας προγνωσθῆναι

14He who rises early in the morning to seek her Will not grow weary, For he will find her sitting at his gates.

ὁ ὀρθρίσας πρὸς αὐτὴν οὐ κοπιάσει πάρεδρον γὰρ εὑρήσει τῶν πυλῶν αὐτοῦ

15For to think deeply about her Is the perfection of discernment, And he who keeps watch for her Will soon be free from worry;

τὸ γὰρ ἐνθυμηθῆναι περὶ αὐτῆς φρονήσεως τελειότης καὶ ὁ ἀγρυπνήσας δι᾿ αὐτὴν ταχέως ἀμέριμνος ἔσται

16Because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, And she appears to them favorably in their paths And meets them in every thought.

ὅτι τοὺς ἀξίους αὐτῆς αὐτὴ περιέρχεται ζητοῦσα καὶ ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις φαντάζεται αὐτοῖς εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐν πάσῃ ἐπινοίᾳ ὑπαντᾷ αὐτοῖς

17For the beginning of wisdom Is a very genuine desire for instruction, And careful attention to instruction is the love of her.

ἀρχὴ γὰρ αὐτῆς ἡ ἀληθεστάτη παιδείας ἐπιθυμία φροντὶς δὲ παιδείας ἀγάπη

18Now this love is the keeping of her laws, And giving heed to her laws is the assurance of incorruption;

ἀγάπη δὲ τήρησις νόμων αὐτῆς προσοχὴ δὲ νόμων βεβαίωσις ἀφθαρσίας

19And incorruption brings one near to God.

ἀφθαρσία δὲ ἐγγὺς εἶναι ποιεῖ θεοῦ

20So desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.

ἐπιθυμία ἄρα σοφίας ἀνάγει ἐπὶ βασιλείαν

21Therefore if you take pleasure in thrones and scepters, O tyrants, Honor wisdom, that you may reign forever.

εἰ οὖν ἥδεσθε ἐπὶ θρόνοις καὶ σκήπτροις τύραννοι λαῶν τιμήσατε σοφίαν ἵνα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα βασιλεύσητε

22I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, And I will hide no mysteries from you; But I will search her out from the beginning of creation And make her knowledge clear. I will not pass by the truth,

τί δέ ἐστιν σοφία καὶ πῶς ἐγένετο ἀπαγγελῶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψω ὑμῖν μυστήρια ἀλλὰ ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς γενέσεως ἐξιχνιάσω καὶ θήσω εἰς τὸ ἐμφανὲς τὴν γνῶσιν αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ παροδεύσω τὴν ἀλήθειαν

23Nor indeed travel with envy, which causes one to waste away, Because envy will have no share in wisdom.

οὔτε μὴν φθόνῳ τετηκότι συνοδεύσω ὅτι οὗτος οὐ κοινωνήσει σοφίᾳ

24But a multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world, And a prudent king is the stability of his people.

πλῆθος δὲ σοφῶν σωτηρία κόσμου καὶ βασιλεὺς φρόνιμος εὐστάθεια δήμου

25Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.

ὥστε παιδεύεσθε τοῖς ῥήμασίν μου καὶ ὠφεληθήσεσθε