Wisdom 11

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

1She prospered their works in the hand of the holy prophet.

She — Wisdom — the divine Love-Wisdom of the Source, ordering all things — prospered their works in the hand of the holy prophet — Moses, the deliverer-lawgiver in his forth-telling office.

2They went through the wilderness that was not inhabited, and pitched tents in places where there lay no way.

They went through the wilderness — the untended waste-state where the house is tested and formed — that was not inhabited, and pitched tents in places where there lay no way.

3They stood against their enemies, and were avenged of their adversaries.

They stood against their enemies, and were avenged of their adversaries.

4When they were thirsty, they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the flinty rock, and their thirst was quenched out of the hard stone.

When they were thirsty, they called upon Thee, and water — truth drawn from the deep — was given them out of the flinty rock, and their thirst was quenched out of the hard stone.

5For by what things their enemies were punished, by the same they in their need were benefited.

For by what things their enemies were punished, by the same they in their need were benefited.

6For instead of a fountain of a perpetual running river troubled with foul blood,

For instead of a fountain of a perpetual running river troubled with foul blood — the life-stream defiled,

7For a manifest reproof of that commandment, whereby the infants were slain, thou gavest unto them abundance of water by a means which they hoped not for:

For a manifest reproof of that commandment, whereby the infants were slain, Thou gavest unto them abundance of water by a means which they hoped not for:

8Declaring by that thirst then how thou hadst punished their adversaries.

Declaring by that thirst then how Thou hadst punished their adversaries.

9For when they were tried albeit but in mercy chastised, they knew how the ungodly were judged in wrath and tormented, thirsting in another manner than the just.

For when they were tried albeit but in mercy chastised, they knew how the ungodly were judged in wrath and tormented, thirsting in another manner than the just.

10For these thou didst admonish and try, as a father: but the other, as a severe king, thou didst condemn and punish.

For these Thou didst admonish and try, as a father: but the other, as a severe king, Thou didst condemn and punish.

11Whether they were absent or present, they were vexed alike.

Whether they were absent or present, they were vexed alike.

12For a double grief came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past.

For a double grief came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past.

13For when they heard by their own punishments the other to be benefited, they had some feeling of the Lord.

For when they heard by their own punishments the other to be benefited, they had some feeling of the indwelling LORD.

14For whom they rejected with scorn, when he was long before thrown out at the casting forth of the infants, him in the end, when they saw what came to pass, they admired.

For whom they rejected with scorn, when he was long before thrown out at the casting forth of the infants — Moses himself — him in the end, when they saw what came to pass, they admired.

15But for the foolish devices of their wickedness, wherewith being deceived they worshipped serpents void of reason, and vile beasts, thou didst send a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon them for vengeance;

But for the foolish devices of their twistedness, wherewith being deceived they worshipped serpents void of reason, and vile beasts, Thou didst send a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon them for the settling of accounts;

16That they might know, that wherewithal a man sinneth, by the same also shall he be punished.

That they might know, that wherewithal a man errs, by the same also shall he be corrected.

17For thy Almighty hand, that made the world of matter without form, wanted not means to send among them a multitude of bears or fierce lions,

For Thy Almighty hand, that made the world of matter without form, wanted not means to send among them a multitude of bears or fierce lions,

18Or unknown wild beasts, full of rage, newly created, breathing out either a fiery vapour, or filthy scents of scattered smoke, or shooting horrible sparkles out of their eyes:

Or unknown wild beasts, full of rage, newly created, breathing out either a fiery vapour, or filthy scents of scattered smoke, or shooting horrible sparkles out of their eyes:

19Whereof not only the harm might dispatch them at once, but also the terrible sight utterly destroy them.

Whereof not only the harm might dispatch them at once, but also the terrible sight utterly destroy them.

20Yea, and without these might they have fallen down with one blast, being persecuted of vengeance, and scattered abroad through the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight.

Yea, and without these might they have fallen down with one blast, being persecuted of the settling of accounts, and scattered abroad through the breath of Thy power: but Thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight.

21For thou canst shew thy great strength at all times when thou wilt; and who may withstand the power of thine arm?

For Thou canst show Thy great strength at all times when Thou wilt; and who may withstand the power of Thine arm?

22For the whole world before thee is as a little grain of the balance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down upon the earth.

For the whole world before Thee is as a little grain of the balance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falls down upon the earth.

23But thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things, and winkest at the sins of men, because they should amend.

But Thou hast mercy upon all; for Thou canst do all things, and winkest at the errors of men, because they should amend — turn in mind and return to the order.

24For thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made: for never wouldest thou have made any thing, if thou hadst hated it.

For Thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest nothing which Thou hast made: for never wouldest Thou have made any thing, if Thou hadst hated it.

25And how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy will? or been preserved, if not called by thee?

And how could any thing have endured, if it had not been Thy will? or been preserved, if not called by Thee?

26But thou sparest all: for they are thine, O Lord, thou lover of souls.

But Thou sparest all: for they are Thine, O Lord, Thou lover of soul-states.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.