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1 Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man. 2 Hear therefore, you kings, and understand: learn, that are judges of the ends of the earth. 3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:


4 For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts: 5 Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God. 6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule. 7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented. 8 For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he has equally care of all.


9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty. 10 To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it. 11 For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.


12 Covet therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction. 13 Wisdom is glorious, and never fades away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her. 14 She prevents them that covet her, so that she first shows herself to them. 15 He that awakes early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door. 16 To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watches for her, shall quickly be secure. 17 For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she show herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all providence. 18 For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline. 19 And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption: 20 And incorruption brings near to God. 21 Therefore the desire of wisdom brings to the everlasting kingdom.


22 If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O you kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever. 23 Love the light of wisdom, all you that bear rule over peoples. 24 Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth: 25 Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom. 26 Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people. 27 Receive therefore instruction by my words, and it shall be profitable to you.

 

 

6:1 a wise person, in soul, is better than a strong person, in body; wisdom directs the steps of a person. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:5 The common good of the nation is a divine thing, wherefore in olden times the rulers of a commonwealth were called divines, as being the ministers of divine providence. (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 99.1) 6:6 So that more knowledge is a ground of more punishment. For this same reason the priest, if he commit the same sin as those under government, shall not have the same to endure, but things far more grievous. (St. John Chrysostom Hom Mt 26.8) 6:7 little: To those who sinned through ignorance, or weakness, or necessity and have wiped it away by humble penitence. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:8 he has equally care for all: God is said to have equally care of all, not because by His care He deals out equal good to all, but because He administers all things with a like wisdom and goodness. (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 20.3) 6:10 not fall from it: That is, into a transgression of the precepts of God. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:11 just things: in believing correctly and in acting well. (Rabanus Maurus)

6:14 This wisdom is Christ. For He prevents all things by his grace for whoever longs for his love; because he is ‘the way, the truth and the life’ John 14:15, through him one goes, one moves towards him, and arrives at him. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:15 awakes early: with a devout heart from the beginning. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:18 for the beginning of her: no one suddenly becomes perfect. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:20-21 Those who in this world live and keep the commandments of God reach the incorruptibility of immortality and everlasting life, which consists particularly in the knowledge of the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rabanus Maurus) 6:25-27 It is clear that wisdom is not the partner of deadly envy, because by the envy of the devil, death came into the world Wisdom 2:4, and by the wisdom of God the human race was rescued from the chains of death; so there follows: the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world. The multitude of the wise is the body of holy preachers whose teaching is the welfare of the whole world. (Rabanus Maurus)