The Holy Scripture
Chapter IX
O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,
θεὲ πατέρων καὶ κύριε τοῦ ἐλέους ὁ ποιήσας τὰ πάντα ἐν λόγῳ σου
and ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,
καὶ τῇ σοφίᾳ σου κατασκευάσας ἄνθρωπον ἵνα δεσπόζῃ τῶν ὑπὸ σοῦ γενομένων κτισμάτων
and order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:
καὶ διέπῃ τὸν κόσμον ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἐν εὐθύτητι ψυχῆς κρίσιν κρίνῃ
give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:
δός μοι τὴν τῶν σῶν θρόνων πάρεδρον σοφίαν καὶ μή με ἀποδοκιμάσῃς ἐκ παίδων σου
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.
ὅτι ἐγὼ δοῦλος σὸς καὶ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου ἄνθρωπος ἀσθενὴς καὶ ὀλιγοχρόνιος καὶ ἐλάσσων ἐν συνέσει κρίσεως καὶ νόμων
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.
κἂν γάρ τις ᾖ τέλειος ἐν υἱοῖς ἀνθρώπων τῆς ἀπὸ σοῦ σοφίας ἀπούσης εἰς οὐδὲν λογισθήσεται
Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:
σύ με προείλω βασιλέα λαοῦ σου καὶ δικαστὴν υἱῶν σου καὶ θυγατέρων
thou 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.
εἶπας οἰκοδομῆσαι ναὸν ἐν ὄρει ἁγίῳ σου καὶ ἐν πόλει κατασκηνώσεώς σου θυσιαστήριον μίμημα σκηνῆς ἁγίας ἣν προητοίμασας ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς
And 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.
καὶ μετὰ σοῦ ἡ σοφία ἡ εἰδυῖα τὰ ἔργα σου καὶ παροῦσα ὅτε ἐποίεις τὸν κόσμον καὶ ἐπισταμένη τί ἀρεστὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ τί εὐθὲς ἐν ἐντολαῖς σου
O 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.
ἐξαπόστειλον αὐτὴν ἐξ ἁγίων οὐρανῶν καὶ ἀπὸ θρόνου δόξης σου πέμψον αὐτήν ἵνα συμπαροῦσά μοι κοπιάσῃ καὶ γνῶ τί εὐάρεστόν ἐστιν παρὰ σοί
For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.
οἶδε γὰρ ἐκείνη πάντα καὶ συνίει καὶ ὁδηγήσει με ἐν ταῖς πράξεσί μου σωφρόνως καὶ φυλάξει με ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτῆς
So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.
καὶ ἔσται προσδεκτὰ τὰ ἔργα μου καὶ διακρινῶ τὸν λαόν σου δικαίως καὶ ἔσομαι ἄξιος θρόνων πατρός μου
For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?
τίς γὰρ ἄνθρωπος γνώσεται βουλὴν θεοῦ ἢ τίς ἐνθυμηθήσεται τί θέλει ὁ κύριος
For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.
λογισμοὶ γὰρ θνητῶν δειλοί καὶ ἐπισφαλεῖς αἱ ἐπίνοιαι ἡμῶν
For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.
φθαρτὸν γὰρ σῶμα βαρύνει ψυχήν καὶ βρίθει τὸ γεῶδες σκῆνος νοῦν πολυφρόντιδα
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 who hath searched out?
καὶ μόλις εἰκάζομεν τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς καὶ τὰ ἐν χερσὶν εὑρίσκομεν μετὰ πόνου τὰ δὲ ἐν οὐρανοῖς τίς ἐξιχνίασεν
And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?
βουλὴν δέ σου τίς ἔγνω εἰ μὴ σὺ ἔδωκας σοφίαν καὶ ἔπεμψας τὸ ἅγιόν σου πνεῦμα ἀπὸ ὑψίστων
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.
καὶ οὕτως διωρθώθησαν αἱ τρίβοι τῶν ἐπὶ γῆς καὶ τὰ ἀρεστά σου ἐδιδάχθησαν ἄνθρωποι καὶ τῇ σοφίᾳ ἐσώθησαν