¹

ΘΕΕ πατέρων καὶ Κύριε τοῦ ἐλέους ὁ ποιήσας τὰ πάντα ἐν λόγῳ σου

¹

O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

²

καὶ τῇ σοφίᾳ σου κατεσκεύσασας ἄνθρωπον, ἵνα δεσπόζῃ τῶν ὑπὸ σοῦ γενομένων κτισμάτων

²

and ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,

³

καὶ διέπῃ τὸν κόσμον ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἐν εὐθύτητι ψυχῆς κρίσιν κρίνῃ,

³

and order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

⁴

δός μοι τὴν τῶν σῶν θρόνων πάρεδρον σοφίαν καὶ μή με ἀποδοκιμάσῃς ἐκ παίδων σου.

⁴

give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:

⁵

ὅτι ἐγὼ δοῦλος σὸς καὶ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου, ἄνθρωπος ἀσθενὴς καὶ ὀλιγοχρόνιος καὶ ἐλάσσων ἐν συνέσει κρίσεως καὶ νόμων·

⁵

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.

⁶

κἂν γάρ τις ᾖ τέλειος ἐν υἱοῖς ἀνθρώπων, τῆς ἀπὸ σοῦ σοφίας ἀπούσης, εἰς οὐδὲν λογισθήσεται.

⁶

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.

⁷

σύ με προείλω βασιλέα λαοῦ σου καὶ δικαστὴν υἱῶν σου καί θυγατέρων·

⁷

Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

⁸

εἶπας οἰκοδομῆσαι ναὸν ἐν ὄρει ἁγίῳ σου καὶ ἐν πόλει κατασκηνώσεώς σου θυσιαστήριον, μίμημα σκηνῆς ἁγίας, ἣν προητοίμασας ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς.

⁸

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.

⁹

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.

⁹

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.

¹⁰

ἐξαπόστειλον αὐτὴν ἐξ ἁγίων οὐρανῶν καὶ ἀπὸ θρόνου δόξης σου πέμψον αὐτήν, ἵνα συμπαροῦσά μοι κοπιάσῃ καὶ γνῶ τί εὐάρεστόν ἐστι παρά σοί.

¹⁰

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.

¹¹

οἶδε γὰρ ἐκείνη πάντα καὶ συνίει καὶ ὁδηγήσει με ἐν ταῖς πράξεσί μου σωφρόνως καὶ φυλάξει με ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτῆς·

¹¹

For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.

¹²

καὶ ἔσται προσδεκτὰ τὰ ἔργα μου, καὶ διακρινῶ τὸν λαόν σου δικαίως καὶ ἔσομαι ἄξιος θρόνων πατρός μου.

¹²

So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.

¹³

τίς γὰρ ἄνθρωπος γνώσεται βουλὴν Θεοῦ; ἢ τίς ἐνθυμηθήσεται τί θέλει ὁ Κύριος;

¹³

For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?

¹⁴

λογισμοὶ γὰρ θνητῶν δειλοί, καὶ ἐπισφαλεῖς αἱ ἐπίνοιαι ἡμῶν.

¹⁴

For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.

¹⁵

φθαρτὸν γὰρ σῶμα βαρύνει ψυχήν, καὶ βρίθει τὸ γεῶδες σκῆνος νοῦν πολυφρόντιδα.

¹⁵

For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.

¹⁶

καὶ μόλις εἰκάζομεν τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς καί τὰ ἐν χερσὶν εὑρίσκομεν μετὰ πόνου· τὰ δὲ ἐν οὐρανοῖς τίς ἐξιχνίασε;

¹⁶

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?

¹⁷

βουλὴν δέ σου τίς ἔγων, εἰ μὴ σὺ ἔδωκας σοφίαν καὶ ἔπεμψας τὸ ἅγιόν σου πνεῦμα ἀπὸ ὑψίστων;

¹⁷

And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?

¹⁸

καὶ οὕτως διωρθώθησαν αἱ τρίβοι τῶν ἐπὶ γῆς, καὶ τὰ ἀρεστά σου ἐδιδάχθησαν ἄνθρωποι,

¹⁸

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.

¹⁹

καὶ τῇ σοφίᾳ ἐσώθησαν.