Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.
1
Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
2 Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.
2
Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.
3 For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.
3
For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High; he will search out your works and inquire into your plans.
4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;
4
Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, or keep the law, or walk according to the purpose of God,
5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places.
5
he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places.
6 For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.
6
For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested.
7 For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man's person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike.
7
For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of anyone, or show deference to greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike.
8 But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.
8
But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.
9 Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not fall away.
9
To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, so that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.
10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer.
10
For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense.
11 Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed.
11
Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed.
12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.
12
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her.
13 She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.
13
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
14 Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.
14
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate.
15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.
15
To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
16 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought.
16
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;
17
The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her,
18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption;
18
and love of her is the keeping of her laws, and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,
19 And incorruption maketh us near unto God:
19
and immortality brings one near to God;
20 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.
20
so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.
21 If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.
21
Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs over the peoples, honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever.
22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.
22
I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, and I will hide no secrets from you, but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, and make knowledge of her clear, and I will not pass by the truth;
23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.
23
nor will I travel in the company of sickly envy, for envy does not associate with wisdom.
24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.
24
The multitude of the wise is the salvation of the world, and a sensible king is the stability of any people.
25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.
25
Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.