Wisdom 4
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
1Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.
Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with the Source, and with men.
2When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it wears a crown — a ruling state perfected and acknowledged — and triumphs for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
3But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
But the multiplying brood of the godless shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
4For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not firm, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
5The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, fit for nothing.
6For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of twistedness against their parents in their trial.
7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
But though the right-ordered state be overtaken by death early, yet shall he be in rest.
8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
For honourable age is not that which stands in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
9But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
But Wisdom — the divine Love-Wisdom of the Source, ordering all things — is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
He pleased the Source, and was beloved of Him: so that living among error-bound states he was translated — lifted out of their sight.
11Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that twistedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul-state.
12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
For the bewitching of naughtiness obscures things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence undermines the simple, undivided mind.
13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
14For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
For his soul-state pleased the indwelling LORD: therefore He hasted to take him away from among the twisted states.
15This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He has respect unto His chosen.
16Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.
Thus the right-ordered state that is dead shall condemn the godless which are living; and youth that is soon perfected, the many years and old age of the state out of right relation.
17For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.
For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what the Source in His counsel has decreed of him, and to what end the indwelling LORD has set him in safety.
18They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.
They shall see him, and despise him; but the Source shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore — the consequence enduring while the state endures.
19For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
For He shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and He shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
20And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
And when they cast up the accounts of their errors, they shall come with fear: and their own disorders shall convict them to their face.
Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.