1   God of our fathers, merciful Lord, who hast made all things by thy

In praise of wisdom word, 2   and in thy wisdom hast fashioned man, to be the master of thy whole creation, 3   and to be steward of the world in holiness and righteousness, 4   and to administer justice with an upright heart, give me wisdom, who sits beside thy throne, and do not refuse me a place among thy servants. 5   I am thy slave, thy slave-girl's son, a weak ephemeral man, too feeble to understand justice and law; 6   for let a man be ever so perfect in the eyes of his fellow-men, if the wisdom that comes from thee is wanting, he will be of no account. 7   Thou didst choose me to be king of thy own people, and judge over thy sons and daughters; 8   thou didst tell me to build a temple on thy sacred mountain and an altar in the city which is thy dwelling-place, a copy of the sacred tabernacle prepared by thee from the beginning. 9   And with thee is wisdom, who is familiar with thy works and was present at the making of the world by thee, who knows what is acceptable to thee and in line with thy commandments. 10   Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from thy glorious throne bid her come down, so that she may labour at my side and I may learn what pleases thee. 11   For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me prudently in all I do, and guard me in her glory. 12   So shall my life's work be acceptable, and I shall judge thy people justly, and be worthy of my father's throne. 13   For how can any man learn what is God's plan? 14   How can he apprehend what the Lord's will is? The reasoning of men is feeble, and our plans are fallible; 15   because a perishable body weighs down the soul, and its frame of clay burdens the mind so full of thoughts. 16   With difficulty we guess even at things on earth, and laboriously find out what lies before our feet; and who has ever traced out what is in heaven? 17   Who ever learnt to know thy purposes, unless thou hadst given him wisdom and sent thy holy spirit down from heaven on high? 18   Thus it was that those on earth were set upon the right path, and men were taught what pleases thee; thus were they preserved by wisdom.

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