Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 8 - Interlinear Translation

1 διατείνει δὲ ἀπὸ πέρατος ἐπὶ πέρας εὐρώστως καὶ διοικεῖ τὰ πάντα χρηστῶς.

1 She extends from end to end robustly, and manages all things beneficially.

2 Ταύτην ἐφίλησα καὶ ἐξεζήτησα ἐκ νεότητός μου καὶ ἐζήτησα νύμφην ἀγαγέσθαι ἐμαυτῷ καὶ ἐραστὴς ἐγενόμην τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς.

2 I loved her and I have sought her out from my youth, even having sought her for a bride to bring to myself, and I have become a lover of her beauty.

3 εὐγένειαν δοξάζει συμβίωσιν θεοῦ ἔχουσα, καὶ ὁ πάντων δεσπότης ἠγάπησεν αὐτήν·

3 She honors her nobility of birth, having her dwelling together with God, and the Master of all things has loved her.

4 μύστις γάρ ἐστιν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιστήμης καὶ αἱρετὶς τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.

4 For she is a teacher of the mysteries of the knowledge of God and a chooser of His works.

5 εἰ δὲ πλοῦτός ἐστιν ἐπιθυμητὸν κτῆμα ἐν βίῳ, τί σοφίας πλουσιώτερον τῆς τὰ πάντα ἐργαζομένης;

5 But if wealth is a coveted possession in life, what is wealthier than Wisdom, which works all things?

6 εἰ δὲ φρόνησις ἐργάζεται, τίς αὐτῆς τῶν ὄντων μᾶλλόν ἐστιν τεχνῖτις;

6 And if understanding works, who is a better craftsman of existing things than she?

7 καὶ εἰ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαπᾷ τις, οἱ πόνοι ταύτης εἰσὶν ἀρεταί· σωφροσύνην γὰρ καὶ φρόνησιν ἐκδιδάσκει, δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἀνδρείαν, ὧν χρησιμώτερον οὐδέν ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ ἀνθρώποις.

7 And if anyone loves righteousness her labors are virtues. For temperance and understanding she teaches, righteousness and manliness, of which things nothing is more useful in the life of men.

8 εἰ δὲ καὶ πολυπειρίαν ποθεῖ τις, οἶδεν τὰ ἀρχαῖα καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα εἰκάζει, ἐπίσταται στροφὰς λόγων καὶ λύσεις αἰνιγμάτων, σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα προγινώσκει καὶ ἐκβάσεις καιρῶν καὶ χρόνων.

8 Then if any man desires great experience, she knows the things of old, and portrays a likeness of the coming things. She is acquainted with the nuances of words and solutions of riddles. She knows beforehand signs and wonders and the outcomes of seasons and times.

9 ἔκρινα τοίνυν ταύτην ἀγαγέσθαι πρὸς συμβίωσιν εἰδὼς ὅτι ἔσται μοι σύμβουλος ἀγαθῶν καὶ παραίνεσις φροντίδων καὶ λύπης.

9 Accordingly I decided to bring her to dwell together, knowing that she shall be for me a counsellor of good things and an exhortation of cares and sorrow.

10 ἕξω δι’ αὐτὴν δόξαν ἐν ὄχλοις καὶ τιμὴν παρὰ πρεσβυτέροις ὁ νέος·

10 On account of her I shall have a reputation and honor among the multitudes, a youth alongside the elders.

11 ὀξὺς εὑρεθήσομαι ἐν κρίσει καὶ ἐν ὄψει δυναστῶν θαυμασθήσομαι·

11 I shall be found sharp in judgment, and in the sight of rulers I shall be a marvel.

12 σιγῶντά με περιμενοῦσιν καὶ φθεγγομένῳ προσέξουσιν καὶ λαλοῦντος ἐπὶ πλεῖον χεῖρα ἐπιθήσουσιν ἐπὶ στόμα αὐτῶν.

12 I being silent, they shall wait; then proclaiming, they shall give heed; and speaking even further, they shall place a hand upon their mouths.

13 ἕξω δι’ αὐτὴν ἀθανασίαν καὶ μνήμην αἰώνιον τοῖς μετ’ ἐμὲ ἀπολείψω.

13 On account of her I shall have immortality and for those after me shall I leave behind an eternal memorial.

14 διοικήσω λαούς, καὶ ἔθνη ὑποταγήσεταί μοι·

14 I shall govern the people and to me shall nations be subject.

15 φοβηθήσονταί με ἀκούσαντες τύραννοι φρικτοί, ἐν πλήθει φανοῦμαι ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ ἀνδρεῖος.

15 Hearing me, horrible tyrants shall be stricken with fear. Among the multitude I shall appear to be good, and manly in war.

16 εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου προσαναπαύσομαι αὐτῇ· οὐ γὰρ ἔχει πικρίαν ἡ συναναστροφὴ αὐτῆς οὐδὲ ὀδύνην ἡ συμβίωσις αὐτῆς, ἀλλὰ εὐφροσύνην καὶ χαράν.

16 Entering into my house I shall sleep beside her, for her intercourse has no bitterness, nor cohabiting with her any sorrow, but gladness and joy.

17 ταῦτα λογισάμενος ἐν ἐμαυτῷ καὶ φροντίσας ἐν καρδίᾳ μου ὅτι ἀθανασία ἐστὶν ἐν συγγενείᾳ σοφίας

17 Having considered these things within myself and having thought in my heart that immortality is congenital with wisdom,

18 καὶ ἐν φιλίᾳ αὐτῆς τέρψις ἀγαθὴ καὶ ἐν πόνοις χειρῶν αὐτῆς πλοῦτος ἀνεκλιπὴς καὶ ἐν συγγυμνασίᾳ ὁμιλίας αὐτῆς φρόνησις καὶ εὔκλεια ἐν κοινωνίᾳ λόγων αὐτῆς, περιῄειν ζητῶν ὅπως λάβω αὐτὴν εἰς ἐμαυτόν.

18 and there is good pleasure in her friendship, and in the work of her hands is unfailing wealth, and in exercising together in her company is understanding, and in fellowship of her words is good repute, I went about seeking in what manner I may take her to myself.

19 παῖς δὲ ἤμην εὐφυὴς ψυχῆς τε ἔλαχον ἀγαθῆς,

19 For I was a child of good natural disposition of spirit and I obtained good.

20 μᾶλλον δὲ ἀγαθὸς ὢν ἦλθον εἰς σῶμα ἀμίαντον.

20 But rather, being good I came into a body undefiled.

21 γνοὺς δὲ ὅτι οὐκ ἄλλως ἔσομαι ἐγκρατής, ἐὰν μὴ ὁ θεὸς δῷ – καὶ τοῦτο δ’ ἦν φρονήσεως τὸ εἰδέναι τίνος ἡ χάρις – , ἐνέτυχον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἐδεήθην αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπον ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας μου

21 But having known that not in any other manner shall I be self-controlled, if not that God may give it. This also was but a thought by which to know what is the favor I would attain with Yahweh and I begged Him and I said from my whole heart: