Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,
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I also am mortal, like everyone else, a descendant of the first-formed child of earth; and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh,
2 And in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.
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within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage.
3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
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And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; my first sound was a cry, as is true of all.
4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.
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I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths.
5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.
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For no king has had a different beginning of existence;
6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
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there is for all one entrance into life, and one way out.
7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
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Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
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I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
9 Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.
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Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.
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I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.
11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.
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All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.
12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.
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I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother.
13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.
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I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth,
14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.
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for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.
15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.
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May God grant me to speak with judgment, and to have thoughts worthy of what I have received; for he is the guide even of wisdom and the corrector of the wise.
16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.
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For both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts.
17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:
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For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements;
18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:
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the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons,
19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:
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the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars,
20 The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:
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the natures of animals and the tempers of wild animals, the powers of spirits and the thoughts of human beings, the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots;
21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.
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I learned both what is secret and what is manifest,
22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,
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for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible,
23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
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beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle.
24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.
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For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.
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For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.
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For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.
27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.
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Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
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for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.
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She is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.
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for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.
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.