Chukmah Shalumah (Wisdom of Solomon) — 9

Shalumah’s Prayer for Wisdom

1 “O 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of my fathers and 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of mercy, who has made all things by His Dabar,

2 and by your wisdom has formed man, to have dominion over the creatures you have made,

3 and rule the world in righteousness and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,

4 give me the wisdom that sits by in the throne, and do not reject me from among your servants.

5 For I am your slave and the son of your maidservant, a man who is weak and short-lived, with little understanding of judgment and laws;

6 for even if one is perfect among the sons of men, yet without the wisdom that comes from You he will be regarded as nothing.

7 You have chosen me to be king of your people and to be judge over your sons and daughters.

8 You have given command to build a temple on your Qadash mountain, and an altar in the city of your habitation, a copy of the Qadash tent which you did prepare from the beginning.

9 With you is wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you did make the world, and who understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments.

10 Send her forth from the Qadash Shamaym, and from the throne of your Kabad send her, that she may be with me and toil, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.

11 For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her Kabad.

12 Then my works will be acceptable, and I will judge your people justly, and will be worthy of the throne of my father.

13 For what man can learn the counsel of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH? Or who can discern what He wills?

14 For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail,

15 for a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.

16 We can hardly guess what is on earth, and what is at hand we find with labor; but who has traced out what is in the Shamaym?

17 Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your Qadash RUACH from on high?

18 And this is the paths which those on Arath were set right, and men were taught what pleases You, and were saved by wisdom.”