Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,
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"O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word,
2 And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,
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and by your wisdom have formed humankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made,
3 And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:
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and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,
4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:
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give me the wisdom that sits by your throne, and do not reject me from among your servants.
5 For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.
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For I am your servant the son of your serving girl, a man who is weak and short-lived, with little understanding of judgment and laws;
6 For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.
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for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.
7 Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:
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You have chosen me to be king of your people and to be judge over your sons and daughters.
8 Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.
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You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city of your habitation, a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning.
9 And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.
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With you is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments.
10 O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.
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Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labor at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.
11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.
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For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory.
12 So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.
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Then my works will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.
13 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?
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For who can learn the counsel of God? Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.
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For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail;
15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.
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for a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?
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We can hardly guess at what is on earth, and what is at hand we find with labor; but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?
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Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?
18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom.
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And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom."
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.