Listen, O Kings!

Wisdom  6: 1 - 11

IECOT version (2019, Kohlhammer, Stuttgart)

Listen, then, O kings, 

and seek to understand!

(Psalms 2:10)

Lend your ear, you who dominate multitudes, 

who boast in the throng of your nations.  

It was from the Lord that dominion was given 

to you and supreme power from the Most High.  

He who will examine your works and scrutinise 

your decisions.  Although servants of his kingdom, 

you have NOT governed rightly, or observed the 

law, or walked according to the will of God.  

Terribly [Greek: spiktos ]

and swiftly, he will fall upon you because 

inexorable judgement is carried out on tyrants.  

For the lowly one is worthy of mercy, while the 

mighty will be mightily punished,  because the

Sovereign of all will not be afraid of anyone, 

or have regard for greatness, because it is he 

who has created the small and the great and 

provides for all in the same way; [Greek:

pronoeo ]

but a rigorous inquest looms up for rulers.  

My words are for you, therefore 

O sovereigns, that you may 

learn wisdom and avoid falling.  For the one 

who will have kept the holy things in holiness 

will be acknowledged holy (Isaiah 55:3 LXX)

and the one who 

has been taught in it will find a defence

(I Kings 8:61 LXX).  

Long for my words, then, desire them, 

and you will receive their instruction.