But she stretches from end to end mightily and orders all things well
The Koine Bible
The Scriptures in Greek with direct English translation.
Rahlfs Septuagint
Wisdom of Solomon 8
Greek text followed verse by verse by a direct English translation.
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ἐφίλησα καὶ ἐξεζήτησα ἐκ νεότητός μου καὶ ἐζήτησα νύμφην ἀγαγέσθαι ἐμαυτῷ καὶ ἐραστὴς ἐγενόμην τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς
This one I loved and sought out from my youth, and I desired to take her as a bride for myself, and I became a lover of her beauty.
She glorifies nobility of birth, having a companionship with God, and the Lord of all loved her
For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God and an chooser of his works
But if wealth is a desirable possession in life, what is richer than wisdom, the one working all things?
But if prudence works, who among the things that are is more its craftsman?
εἰ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαπᾷ τις οἱ πόνοι ταύτης εἰσὶν ἀρεταί σωφροσύνην γὰρ καὶ φρόνησιν ἐκδιδάσκει δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἀνδρείαν ὧν χρησιμώτερον οὐδέν ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ ἀνθρώποις
And if anyone loves righteousness, the labors of her are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, righteousness and courage, than which nothing is more useful in life for people.
δὲ καὶ πολυπειρίαν ποθεῖ τις οἶδεν τὰ ἀρχαῖα καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα εἰκάζει ἐπίσταται στροφὰς λόγων καὶ λύσεις αἰνιγμάτων σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα προγινώσκει καὶ ἐκβάσεις καιρῶν καὶ χρόνων
And if anyone desires much experience, she knows the things of old and guesses the things to come; she understands turns of words and solutions of riddles, she foreknows signs and wonders and the outcomes of times and seasons
τοίνυν ταύτην ἀγαγέσθαι πρὸς συμβίωσιν εἰδὼς ὅτι ἔσται μοι σύμβουλος ἀγαθῶν καὶ παραίνεσις φροντίδων καὶ λύπης
Therefore I judged to take her to live with me, knowing that she will be a counselor of good things and a support of cares and grief.
Because of her I shall have glory among crowds and honor among elders, though I am young
I shall be found keen in judgment, and in the sight of rulers I shall be wondered at
με περιμενοῦσιν καὶ φθεγγομένῳ προσέξουσιν καὶ λαλοῦντος ἐπὶ πλεῖον χεῖρα ἐπιθήσουσιν ἐπὶ στόμα αὐτῶν
When I am silent they will wait for me, and when I speak they will pay attention, and when I speak longer they will lay a hand upon their mouth.
Because of her I shall have immortality, and I shall leave behind an everlasting remembrance to those after me
I will govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me.
Tyrannical rulers, hearing me, will fear; in the multitude I shall be shown good, and in war courageous.
εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου προσαναπαύσομαι αὐτῇ οὐ γὰρ ἔχει πικρίαν ἡ συναναστροφὴ αὐτῆς οὐδὲ ὀδύνην ἡ συμβίωσις αὐτῆς ἀλλὰ εὐφροσύνην καὶ χαράν
When I have entered into my house, I will rest with her, for her companionship has no bitterness, nor pain her living together, but gladness and joy
Having reckoned these things in myself and considered in my heart that immortality is in kinship with wisdom
ἐν φιλίᾳ αὐτῆς τέρψις ἀγαθὴ καὶ ἐν πόνοις χειρῶν αὐτῆς πλοῦτος ἀνεκλιπὴς καὶ ἐν συγγυμνασίᾳ ὁμιλίας αὐτῆς φρόνησις καὶ εὔκλεια ἐν κοινωνίᾳ λόγων αὐτῆς περιῄειν ζητῶν ὅπως λάβω αὐτὴν εἰς ἐμαυτόν
And in her friendship is good delight, and in the labors of her hands inexhaustible wealth, and in the companionship of her speech prudence and good repute; I used to go about seeking how I might take her to myself.
I was a child of good disposition, and I obtained a good soul
But being good, I came into an undefiled body
δὲ ὅτι οὐκ ἄλλως ἔσομαι ἐγκρατής ἐὰν μὴ ὁ θεὸς δῷ καὶ τοῦτο δ᾿ ἦν φρονήσεως τὸ εἰδέναι τίνος ἡ χάρις ἐνέτυχον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἐδεήθην αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπον ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας μου
And knowing that I shall not be self-controlled otherwise unless God should give it, and this also was of prudence, to know whose grace I had obtained, I appealed to the Lord and besought him, and I said with all my heart: