Wisdom 9

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

1O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who has made all things with Thy word — the divine Idea expressing itself —

2And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,

And ordained man through Thy Wisdom — the divine Love-Wisdom of the Source, ordering all things — that he should have rightful rule over the creatures which Thou hast made,

3And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

And order the world according to equity and right relation, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

4Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:

Give me Wisdom, that sits by Thy throne — the seat of ruling authority; and reject me not from among Thy children:

5For 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.

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.

6For 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.

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.

7Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

Thou hast chosen me to be a king of Thy people, and a judge of Thy sons and daughters:

8Thou 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.

Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon Thy holy mount — the exalted state set apart to Thee — and an altar in the city wherein Thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle — the structured dwelling of the Presence — which Thou hast prepared from the beginning. Here is Solomon — Wisdom in its fullness building the temple — at his building.

9And 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.

And Wisdom was with Thee: which knows Thy works, and was present when Thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in Thy sight, and right in Thy commandments.

10O 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.

O send her out of Thy holy heavens — the inner realm set apart to Thee — and from the throne of Thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto Thee.

11For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.

For she knows and understands all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.

12So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father’s seat.

So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge Thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.

13For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?

For what man is he that can know the counsel of the Source? or who can think what the will of the indwelling LORD is?

14For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.

For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.

15For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.

For the corruptible body presses down the soul-state, and the earthy tabernacle — the outer form as a movable dwelling — weighs down the mind that muses upon many things.

16And 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?

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 — the inner realm — who has searched out?

17And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?

And Thy counsel who has known, except Thou give Wisdom, and send Thy Holy Spirit — the acting Presence of God within the faculties — from above?

18For 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.

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.

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