Wisdom 9:13-18

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

¹³ For what man can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord 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^[a] mind.
¹⁶ We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labor;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
¹⁷ Who has learned thy counsel, unless thou hast given wisdom
and sent thy holy Spirit from on high?
¹⁸ And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and men were taught what pleases thee,
and were saved by wisdom.”