Love righteousness, oh you leaders of the earth: think of the Lord, as it deems fit, and seek him in simplicity of heart: for he will be found of them that do not tempt him and shows himself to those who do not distrust him. For wicked thoughts separate man from God, and his power, when it is tried, reproves the unwise.

For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in a body subject to sin. For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in. For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words, since God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world; and he who contains all things has knowledge of the voice.

Therefore whosoever speaks unrighteous things cannot be hid, neither shall vengeance, when it punishes, pass by him. For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly, and the sound of his words shall come to the Lord for the manifestation of his wicked deeds. For the ear of jealousy hears all things, and the noise of murmurings is not hid. Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable, and refrain your tongue from backbiting; for there is no word so secret, that shall go unnoticed, and the mouth that tells lies slays the soul.

Do not seek death in the error of your life, and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands. For God made not death; neither does he have pleasure in the destruction of the living. For he created all things, that they might live, and the generations of the world were thyming with health and there is no poison of destruction in them. The kingdom of death does not rule over the earth, for righteousness is immortal.

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The ungodly men with their works and words called death to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it. For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not rightly: "Let us oppress the poor righteous man, let us not spare the widow, nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged. Let our strength be the law of justice, for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth. Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous, because he is not for our turn and he is clean contrary to our doings. He chides us with our offending the law and objects to our infamy the transgressings of our education. He professes to have the knowledge of God and he calls himself the child of the Lord. He was made to reprove our thoughts. He is grievous to us even to behold for his life is not like other men’s, his ways are of another fashion. We are esteemed of him as counterfeits, he abstains from our ways as from filthiness. He pronounces the end of the just to be blessed and makes his boast that God is his father.

"Let us see if his words be true and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him and deliver him from the hand of his enemies. Let us examine him with spite and torture, that we may know his meekness and prove his patience. Let us condemn him with a shameful death, for by his own saying he shall be respected."

Such things they did imagine and were deceived: for their own wickedness has blinded them. As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not; neither did they hope for the wages of righteous persons nor did they discern a reward for blameless souls. For God created man to be immortal and made him to be an image of his own eternity. Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world; and they surely know what this means those who are of his side.

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The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. Having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded; for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth, and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him; for grace and mercy is to his saints and he has care for his elect.

But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the Lord. For whosoever despises wisdom and nurture, is miserable and their hope is vain, their labours unfruitful and their works unprofitable. Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked. Their offspring is cursed.

Wherefore blessed is the barren that is undefiled, who has not known the sinful bed: she shall have fruit in the visitation of souls. And blessed is the eunuch, who with his hands has done no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind. For glorious is the fruit of good labours, and the root of wisdom shall never fall away.

As for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to their perfection and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out. For though they live long yet shall they be in no way regarded; and their last age shall be without honour. Or, if they die young, they have no hope, neither comfort in the day of trial. For horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation.

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Readings of the 30^th Week – Wednesday The Reading is from the Book of Wisdom

Better is wisdom than strength, a wise man than a strong man. Hear therefore, oh you kings, and understand: learn, you that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you of the Lord! Sovereignty comes to you from the Highest, who shall try your works and search out your counsels.

Because, being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God. Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you, for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places. For mercy will soon pardon the meanest, but mighty men shall be mightily tormented. For he who is Lord over all shall fear no man’s person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man’s greatness. For he has made the small and the great, and cares for all alike; but a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.

To you do I therefore speak, oh kings, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall away. For they that keep the commandments in a holy manner shall be judged with the saints; and whosoever has learned them shall have the commandments to answer for him. Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them and you shall be instructed by them.

Wisdom is glorious and never fades away: indeed, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her. She prevents them that desire her, in making herself first known to them. Whosoever seeks her early shall have no great travail, for he shall find her sitting at his doors.

To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom, and whosoever watches for her shall quickly be without care. For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, shows herself favourably to them in the ways, and meets them in every thought.

For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love of discipline. And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed to her laws is the assurance of incorruption. And incorruption makes us near to God. Therefore the desire of wisdom brings to a kingdom. If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, oh you kings of the people, honour wisdom, that you may reign for evermore.

As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you and will not hide mysteries from you, but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth. Neither will I go with consuming envy, for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.

The multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world, and a wise king is the upholding of his people. Therefore receive instruction through my words and it shall do you good.

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God has granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is fits for the things that are given me. Because it is he who leades up to wisdom and directs the wise. For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also and knowledge of workmanship.

For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements: The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun and the change of seasons. The circuits of years and the positions of stars. The natures of living creatures and the furies of wild beasts. The violence of winds and the reasonings of men. The diversities of plants and the virtues of roots. And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know. For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.

In wisdom is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtle, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be restrained, ready to do good, kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtle, spirits. For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passes and goes through all things by reason of her pureness.

For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her. For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God and the image of his goodness.

And being but one, she can do all things; and remaining in herself, she makes all things new, in all ages entering into holy souls and makes them friends of God and prophets. For God loves none but whosoever dwells with wisdom. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars; being compared with the light, she is found before it. For after this comes night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.

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Wisdom reaches from one end to another mightily: and sweetly does she order all things. I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty. In that she is conversant with God, she magnifies her nobility: indeed, the Lord of all things himself loved her. For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works. If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that works all things?

And if prudence work, who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she? And if a man love righteousness, her labours are virtues: for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in their life. If a man desire much experience, she knows things of old and conjectures rightly what is to come; she knows the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences; she foresees signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.

Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief. For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young. I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment and shall be admired in the sight of great men. When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure and when I speak, they shall give me good ear: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.

Moreover by the means of wisdom I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me. I shall set the people in order and the nations shall be subject to me. Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war. After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation has no bitterness; and to live with her has no sorrow, but mirth and joy.

Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied with wisdom is immortality, and great pleasure it is to have her friendship. In the works of her hands are infinite riches and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence. In talking with her, a good report. I went about seeking how to take her to me.

For I was a witty child and had a good spirit. Or rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled. Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was. I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him.

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Lord, you hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight. For you cannot show your great strength at all times whenever you wish; and who may withstand the power of your arm? For the whole world before you is as a little grain of the balance, indeed, as a drop of the morning dew that falls down on the ground. But you have mercy upon all, for you can do all things: you wink at the sins of men that they should amend.

For you love all the things that are and abhor nothing which you have made, for you would never have made any thing if you hated it. Or how could any thing have endured, if it had not been your will? Or been preserved, if not called by you? But you spare all: for they are yours, oh Lord, you lover of souls. As your incorruptible Spirit is in all things.

Therefore you forewarn those little by little that offend and warnest those by putting them in remembrance wherein they have offended, that leaving their wickedness they may believe in you, oh Lord. Neither did you, for fear of any man, give them pardon for those things wherein they sinned. For who shall say, "What have you done?" Or who shall withstand your judgment? Or who shall accuse you for the nations that perish, whom you made? Or who shall come to stand against you, to be revenged for the unrighteous men?

For neither is there any God but you that cares for all, to whom you might show that your judgment is not bad. Neither shall king or tyrant be able to set his face against you for any whom you have punished. Forsomuch then as you art righteous yourself, you order all things righteously: thinking it not agreeable with your power to condemn whosoever did not deserve to be punished. For your power is the beginning of righteousness, and because you are the Lord of all, it makes you to be gracious to all. For when men will not believe that you are of a full power, you show your strength, and among them that know it you make their boldness manifest.

Yet mastering your power, you judge with equity and order us with great favour. For you may use power when you will. But by such works have you taught your people that the just man should be merciful, and have made your children to be of a good hope that you give repentance for sins.

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