---
title: "Wisdom 6 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/wisdom/6/
description: "An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by those that… Wisdom 6 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Wisdom 6

Wisdom 6 is chapter 6 of 19 in the Book of Wisdom. Here are all 27 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by those that seek her.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Wisdom 6 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Wisdom is better than power, and a prudent man is better than a powerful one.
2. Therefore, hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you judges of the ends of the earth.
3. Listen closely, you who hold the attention of the crowds, and who please yourselves by disturbing the nations.
4. For power has been given to you from the Lord and strength from the Most High, who will examine your works and scrutinize your thoughts.
5. For, when you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge correctly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk according to the will of God.
6. Horribly and quickly he will appear to you, because he will make a severe judgment for those who are in charge.
7. For, to the little, great mercy is granted, but the powerful will endure powerful torment.
8. For the Lord will not exempt anyone’s character, nor will he stand in awe of anyone’s greatness, because he himself made the little and the great, and he is equally concerned for everyone.
9. But a powerful torture pursues the powerful.
10. Therefore, O kings, these, my words, are for you, so that you may learn wisdom and not perish.
11. For those who have justly preserved justice will be justified, and those who have learned these things will find what to answer.
12. Therefore, desire my words, love them, and you will have instruction.
13. Wisdom is pure and never fades away, and is easily seen by those who love her and found by those who seek her.
14. She anticipates those who desire her, so that she first reveals herself to them.
15. Whoever awakens early to seek her, will not labor, for he will find her sitting at his door.
16. Therefore, by thinking about her, understanding is perfected, and whoever remains watchful for her, will quickly be secure.
17. For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she reveals herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all foresight.
18. For the very true beginning of her is the desire for instruction.
19. Therefore, the zeal for instruction is love, and love is the keeping of her laws, and the keeping of her laws is the perfection of incorruptibility,
20. while incorruptibility makes us near to God.
21. And so, the desire for wisdom leads to an everlasting kingdom.
22. If, therefore, your delight is in thrones and scepters, O kings of the people, love wisdom, so that you may reign forever;
23. love the light of wisdom, all you who lead the peoples.
24. But what wisdom is, and how she was made, I will report, and I will not hide the mysteries of God from you, but I will investigate her from the beginning of her birth, and I will place the knowledge of her in the light, and will not pass over the truth.
25. Neither will I hold to the path that dwindles away with envy, because such a man will not partake in wisdom.
26. For the proliferation of the wise is sanity for the world, and a wise king is the mainstay of the people.
27. Therefore, receive instruction by my words, and it will benefit you.

## Wisdom 6 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Melior est sapientia quam vires, et vir prudens quam fortis.
2. Audite ergo, reges, et intelligite; discite, judices finium terræ.
3. Præbete aures, vos qui continetis multitudines, et placetis vobis in turbis nationum.
4. Quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis, et virtus ab Altissimo: qui interrogabit opera vestra, et cogitationes scrutabitur.
5. Quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte judicastis, nec custodistis legem justitiæ, neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis.
6. Horrende et cito apparebit vobis, quoniam judicium durissimum his qui præsunt fiet.
7. Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia; potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur.
8. Non enim subtrahet personam cujusquam Deus, nec verebitur magnitudinem ejus cujusquam, quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et æqualiter cura est illi de omnibus.
9. Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio.
10. Ad vos ergo, reges, sunt hi sermones mei: ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis.
11. Qui enim custodierint justa juste, justificabuntur; et qui didicerint ista, invenient quid respondeant.
12. Concupiscite ergo sermones meos; diligite illos, et habebitis disciplinam.
13. Clara est, et quæ numquam marcescit, sapientia: et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam, et invenitur ab his qui quærunt illam.
14. Præoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat.
15. Qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam non laborabit; assidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet.
16. Cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus, et qui vigilaverit propter illam cito securus erit.
17. Quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quærens, et in viis ostendit se hilariter, et in omni providentia occurrit illis.
18. Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinæ concupiscentia.
19. Cura ergo disciplinæ dilectio est, et dilectio custodia legum illius est; custoditio autem legum consummatio incorruptionis est;
20. incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo.
21. Concupiscentia itaque sapientiæ deducit ad regnum perpetuum.
22. Si ergo delectamini sedibus et sceptris, o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis:
23. diligite lumen sapientiæ, omnes qui præestis populis.
24. Quid est autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facta sit, referam, et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei: sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo, et ponam in lucem scientiam illius, et non præteribo veritatem.
25. Neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo, quoniam talis homo non erit particeps sapientiæ.
26. Multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum, et rex sapiens stabilimentum populi est.
27. Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Sun, Nov 8, 2026: Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time — First Reading, Wisdom 6:12-16
- Wed, Nov 10, 2027 (computed): St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church — First Reading, Wisdom 6:1-11

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).