Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 6 - Interlinear Translation

1 Ἀκούσατε οὖν, βασιλεῖς, καὶ σύνετε· μάθετε, δικασταὶ περάτων γῆς·

1 Therefore you must hear, O kings, and understand! Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth!

2 ἐνωτίσασθε, οἱ κρατοῦντες πλήθους καὶ γεγαυρωμένοι ἐπὶ ὄχλοις ἐθνῶν·

2 Listen, O rulers of a multitude, and those having pride in the throngs of the nations!

3 ὅτι ἐδόθη παρὰ κυρίου ἡ κράτησις ὑμῖν καὶ ἡ δυναστεία παρὰ ὑψίστου, ὃς ἐξετάσει ὑμῶν τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὰς βουλὰς διερευνήσει·

3 Because the dominion is given to you from Yahweh and the power from the Most High, Who shall scrutinize your works and examine your counsels.

4 ὅτι ὑπηρέται ὄντες τῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλείας οὐκ ἐκρίνατε ὀρθῶς οὐδὲ ἐφυλάξατε νόμον οὐδὲ κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπορεύθητε.

4 Since being attendants of His Kingdom you have not judged correctly nor have you kept the law nor have you proceeded according to the counsel of God.

5 φρικτῶς καὶ ταχέως ἐπιστήσεται ὑμῖν, ὅτι κρίσις ἀπότομος ἐν τοῖς ὑπερέχουσιν γίνεται.

5 Horribly and quickly shall He come upon you, as severe judgement comes to the more powerful.

6 ὁ γὰρ ἐλάχιστος συγγνωστός ἐστιν ἐλέους, δυνατοὶ δὲ δυνατῶς ἐτασθήσονται·

6 For the least allowable He is of mercy, but the powerful shall be strongly examined.

7 οὐ γὰρ ὑποστελεῖται πρόσωπον ὁ πάντων δεσπότης οὐδὲ ἐντραπήσεται μέγεθος, ὅτι μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν ὁμοίως τε προνοεῖ περὶ πάντων,

7 For He who is Lord of all shall not withdraw His presence nor respect greatness because He has made great and small alike and provides for them all.

8 τοῖς δὲ κραταιοῖς ἰσχυρὰ ἐφίσταται ἔρευνα.

8 But for the mighty a vigorous inquiry approaches.

9 πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὖν, ὦ τύραννοι, οἱ λόγοι μου, ἵνα μάθητε σοφίαν καὶ μὴ παραπέσητε·

9 Therefore for you, O rulers, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom and not fall away.

10 οἱ γὰρ φυλάξαντες ὁσίως τὰ ὅσια ὁσιωθήσονται, καὶ οἱ διδαχθέντες αὐτὰ εὑρήσουσιν ἀπολογίαν.

10 For those sacredly guarding the sacred things shall be sanctified, and those teaching these things shall find a defense.

11 ἐπιθυμήσατε οὖν τῶν λόγων μου, ποθήσατε καὶ παιδευθήσεσθε.

11 Therefore you must set your hearts upon my words. Desire, and be instructed.

12 Λαμπρὰ καὶ ἀμάραντός ἐστιν ἡ σοφία καὶ εὐχερῶς θεωρεῖται ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγαπώντων αὐτὴν καὶ εὑρίσκεται ὑπὸ τῶν ζητούντων αὐτήν,

12 Wisdom is brilliant and unfading and she is pleasant to behold for those loving her and found by those seeking her.

13 φθάνει τοὺς ἐπιθυμοῦντας προγνωσθῆναι.

13 She comes upon those desiring to know her beforehand.

14 ὁ ὀρθρίσας πρὸς αὐτὴν οὐ κοπιάσει· πάρεδρον γὰρ εὑρήσει τῶν πυλῶν αὐτοῦ.

14 He arising for her in the morning shall not be weary, for he shall find her sitting beside his gates.

15 τὸ γὰρ ἐνθυμηθῆναι περὶ αὐτῆς φρονήσεως τελειότης, καὶ ὁ ἀγρυπνήσας δι’ αὐτὴν ταχέως ἀμέριμνος ἔσται·

15 Indeed to ponder concerning her is the perfection of understanding, and he being watchful by means of her shall quickly be free of concern.

16 ὅτι τοὺς ἀξίους αὐτῆς αὐτὴ περιέρχεται ζητοῦσα καὶ ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις φαντάζεται αὐτοῖς εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐν πάσῃ ἐπινοίᾳ ὑπαντᾷ αὐτοῖς.

16 Because she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her, and appears to them graciously in the paths, and meets them in every thought.

17 ἀρχὴ γὰρ αὐτῆς ἡ ἀληθεστάτη παιδείας ἐπιθυμία, φροντὶς δὲ παιδείας ἀγάπη,

17 For the truest beginning of her is the desire of education, and the thought of education is love.

18 ἀγάπη δὲ τήρησις νόμων αὐτῆς, προσοχὴ δὲ νόμων βεβαίωσις ἀφθαρσίας,

18 But love is the keeping of her laws, and observance of the laws is a confirmation of incorruption.

19 ἀφθαρσία δὲ ἐγγὺς εἶναι ποιεῖ θεοῦ·

19 And incorruption makes one to be near to God.

20 ἐπιθυμία ἄρα σοφίας ἀνάγει ἐπὶ βασιλείαν.

20 Therefore the desire of Wisdom leads to a kingdom.

21 εἰ οὖν ἥδεσθε ἐπὶ θρόνοις καὶ σκήπτροις, τύραννοι λαῶν, τιμήσατε σοφίαν, ἵνα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα βασιλεύσητε.

21 So if you take delight in thrones and scepters, O rulers of people, you must honor Wisdom that you may rule for the age.

22 τί δέ ἐστιν σοφία καὶ πῶς ἐγένετο, ἀπαγγελῶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψω ὑμῖν μυστήρια, ἀλλὰ ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς γενέσεως ἐξιχνιάσω καὶ θήσω εἰς τὸ ἐμφανὲς τὴν γνῶσιν αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ παροδεύσω τὴν ἀλήθειαν.

22 Now what Wisdom is and how she came to be I shall explain, and I shall not conceal mysteries from you but I shall trace out her origin from the beginning and I shall set the knowledge of her into the light, and I shall not bypass the truth.

23 οὔτε μὴν φθόνῳ τετηκότι συνοδεύσω, ὅτι οὗτος οὐ κοινωνήσει σοφίᾳ.

23 Indeed, neither shall I proceed with a consuming envy, because this has no share with Wisdom.

24 πλῆθος δὲ σοφῶν σωτηρία κόσμου, καὶ βασιλεὺς φρόνιμος εὐστάθεια δήμου.

24 But a multitude of wise men is the preservation of the Society, and a prudent king the stability of the people.

25 ὥστε παιδεύεσθε τοῖς ῥήμασίν μου, καὶ ὠφεληθήσεσθε.

25 For this reason, you must be instructed in my words and you shall profit.