The Koine Bible

I too am a mortal man, equal to all, and a descendant of earth-born first-formed man, and in my mother’s womb I was molded as flesh

being fixed for ten months in blood from the seed of a man and from pleasure of sleep coming together

and I also, having become, drew in the common air and fell upon the earth that is like all, first voice, weeping equally the same as all

I was brought up in swaddling clothes and with cares

For no king had any other beginning of birth

And there is one entrance for all into life, and an equal exit.

For this reason I prayed, and prudence was given to me; I called upon her, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I considered wealth nothing in comparison with her

Nor did I liken to her a priceless stone, for all gold in her sight is a little sand, and silver will be reckoned as clay before her

I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her instead of light, because the radiance from her is unquenchable.

And all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable wealth in her hands

And I rejoiced over all things, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know her to be the mother of these things.

and I learned without deceit and I share the wealth of it without envy; I do not hide it away

For an unfailing treasure is for men, which those who acquired it sent forth friendship toward God, having been established through the gifts from training.

But may God grant me to speak according to judgment and to think worthy of the things given, because he himself is both guide of wisdom and corrector of the wise

For in his hand are both we and our words, and all prudence and knowledge of works.

For he himself gave me unfailing knowledge of existing things, to know the constitution of the world and the activity of the elements

the beginning and end and midpoint of times, changes of turns and variations of seasons

the cycles of the year and the positions of the stars

natures of living creatures and impulses of wild animals, violent spirits and thoughts of men, differences of plants and powers of roots

all things both hidden and manifest I knew, for wisdom, the craftsman of all, taught me

For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, only-begotten, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, undefiled, manifest, unharmed, loving good, keen

unhindered, beneficent, loving mankind, steadfast, secure, free from care, all-powerful, all-seeing, and passing through all things, of spirits intelligent, pure, most subtle

For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; and because of her purity she pervades and penetrates through all things.

For she is a vapor of the power of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled falls into her.

For she is a radiance of everlasting light, and an unspotted mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness

and though being one, she is able to do all things, and remaining in herself she makes all things new, and passing into holy souls from generation to generation she prepares friends of God and prophets

For God loves nothing except the one dwelling together with wisdom.

For this is more beautiful than the sun, and surpassing every position of stars, being compared with light, it is found before it.

For this night indeed succeeds, but evil does not prevail over wisdom.