Ecclesiasticus 1
How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.
King James Version
1All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever.
All wisdom comes from the indwelling LORD, and is with Him for ever — Wisdom — the divine Love-Wisdom of the Source, ordering all things — has no source but Him.
2Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?
Who can number the sand of the sea — the grains of the great subconscious — and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?
3Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom?
Who can find out the height of the inner realm, and the breadth of the outer world, and the subconscious deep, and Wisdom herself?
4Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.
Wisdom was brought forth before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.
5The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments.
The Word of the Source most High — the divine Idea going forth — is the fountain of Wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments — articulations of the inner order.
6To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? or who hath known her wise counsels?
To whom has the root of Wisdom been revealed? Or who has known her wise counsels?
7[Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who hath understood her great experience?]
[To whom has the knowledge of Wisdom been made manifest? And who has understood her great experience?]
8There is one wise and greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting upon his throne.
There is One wise and greatly to be feared — held in awe — the indwelling LORD sitting upon His throne, the seat of ruling authority.
9He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works.
He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all His works.
10She is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath given her to them that love him.
She is with all flesh — every faculty in its sense-bound life — according to His gift, and He has given her to them that love Him.
11The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.
The fear of the LORD — awe before the indwelling LORD — is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing, a ruling state perfected.
12The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness, and a long life.
The fear of the LORD makes a merry heart, and gives joy, and gladness, and a long life.
13Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favour in the day of his death.
Whoever fears the LORD, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favour in the day of his death.
14To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb.
To fear the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb — formed with the faithful state from its first conceiving.
15She hath built an everlasting foundation with men, and she shall continue with their seed.
She has built an everlasting foundation with men, and she shall continue with their seed — their word-ideas, unfolding after their kind.
16To fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with her fruits.
To fear the LORD is the fullness of Wisdom, and fills men with her fruits — the results of belief made visible.
17She filleth all their house with things desirable, and the garners with her increase.
She fills all their house with desirable things, and the garners — the storehouses of consciousness — with her increase.
18The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.
The fear of the LORD is a crown of Wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both of which are the gifts of the Source: and it enlarges the rejoicing of them that love Him.
19Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding standing, and exalteth them to honour that hold her fast.
Wisdom rains down skill and standing knowledge of understanding, and exalts to honour them that hold her fast.
20The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches thereof are long life.
The root of Wisdom is to fear the LORD, and her branches are long life.
21The fear of the Lord driveth away sins: and where it is present, it turneth away wrath.
The fear of the LORD drives away sins — errors, states missing the order — and where it is present, it turns away wrath.
22A furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.
A furious man cannot be justified — set in right relation — for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.
23A patient man will bear for a time, and afterward joy shall spring up unto him.
A patient man will bear for a time, and afterward joy shall spring up to him.
24He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
25The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
The parables of knowledge — outer stories carrying inner truths — are in the treasures of Wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner, a state in error.
26If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto thee.
If you desire Wisdom, keep the commandments, and the indwelling LORD shall give her to you.
27For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are his delight.
For the fear of the LORD is Wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are His delight.
28Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double heart.
Do not distrust the fear of the LORD when you are poor — in a lacking state — and come not to Him with a double heart, a heart divided between two rulings.
29Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.
Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what you speak.
30Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.
Exalt not yourself, lest you fall, and bring dishonour upon your soul, and so the Source discover your secrets, and cast you down in the midst of the congregation — the gathered faculties — because you came not in truth to the fear of the LORD, but your heart is full of deceit.
Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.