8
I regarded her more highly than any throne or crown. Wealth was nothing compared to her.
9
Precious jewels could not equal her worth; beside Wisdom all the gold in the world is a handful of sand, and silver is nothing more than clay.
10
I valued her more than health and good looks. Hers is a brightness that never grows dim, and I preferred it to any other light.
11
When Wisdom came to me, all good things came with her. She brought me untold riches.
12
I was happy with them all, because Wisdom had brought them to me. I had not realized before that she was the source of all these things.
13
I was sincere in learning from her, and now I am glad to share what I learned.
14
No one can ever exhaust the treasures of Wisdom. Use those treasures and you are God's friends; he approves of what you learn from her.
15
I pray to God that my thoughts may be worthy of what I have learned, and that I may speak according to his will. He is Wisdom's guide; he gives correction to those who are wise.
16
We are under his power and authority - we ourselves, our words, all our understanding and skills.
17
It is he who gave me true knowledge of the forces of nature: what the world is made of; how the elements behave;
18
how the calendar is determined by the movements of the sun, the changing seasons,