For his covenant is afar off.§
23 He who is lacking in† understanding thinks about these things.
An unwise and erring man thinks foolishly.
24 My son, listen to me, learn knowledge,
and heed my words with your heart.
25 I will impart instruction with precision,
and declare knowledge exactly.
26 In the judgement of the Lord are his works from the beginning.
From the making of them he determined their boundaries.
27 He arranged his works for all time,
and their beginnings to their generations.
They aren’t hungry or weary,
and they don’t cease from their works.
28 No one pushes aside his neighbour.
They will never disobey his word.
29 After this also the Lord looked at the earth
and filled it with his blessings.
30 All manner of living things covered its surface,
and they return into it.
17
1 The Lord created mankind out of earth,
and turned them back to it again.
2 He gave them days by number, and a set time,
and gave them authority over the things that are on it.
3 He endowed them with strength proper to them,
and made them according to his own image.
4 He put the fear of man upon all flesh,
and gave him dominion over beasts and birds. 5 †
6 He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes,
ears, and heart to have understanding.
7 He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom,
and showed them good and evil.
8 He set his eye upon their hearts,
to show them the majesty of his works. 9 ‡
10 And they will praise his holy name,
§ that they may declare the majesty of his works.
11 He added to them knowledge,
and gave them a law of life for a heritage.
12 He made an everlasting covenant with them,
and showed them his decrees.
13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory.
Their ears heard the glory of his voice.
14 He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.”
So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbour.
15 Their ways are ever before him.
They will not be hidden from his eyes. 16 †
17 ‡For every nation he appointed a ruler,
but Israel is the Lord’s portion. 18 §
19 All their works are as clear as the sun before him.
His eyes are continually upon their ways.
20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him.
All their sins are before the Lord. 21 †
22 With him the alms of a man is as a signet.
He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye.‡
23 Afterwards he will rise up and repay them,
and give their repayment upon their head.
24 However to those who repent he grants a return.
He comforts those who are losing hope.
25 Return to the Lord, and forsake sins.
Make your prayer before his face offend less.
26 Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity.§
Greatly hate the abominable thing.
27 Who will give praise to the Most High in Hades,
in place of the living who return thanks?
28 Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one who doesn’t exist.
He who is in life and health will praise the Lord.
29 How great is the mercy of the Lord,
and his forgiveness to those who turn to him!
30 For humans are not capable of everything,
because the son of man is not immortal.
31 What is brighter than the sun? Yet even this can be eclipsed.
So flesh and blood devise evil.
32 He looks upon the power of the height of heaven,
while all men are earth and ashes.
18
1 He who lives forever created the whole universe.
2 The Lord alone is just. 3 †
4 He has given power to declare his works to no one.
Who could trace out his mighty deeds?
5 Who could measure the strength of his majesty?
Who could also proclaim his mercies?
6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is not possible to take from them nor add to them,
neither is it possible to explore them.
7 When a man has finished, then he is just at the beginning.
When he stops, then he will be perplexed.
8 What is mankind, and what purpose do they serve?
What is their good, and what is their evil?
9 The number of man’s days at the most are a hundred years.
10 As a drop of water from the sea, and a pebble from the sand,
so are a few years in the day of eternity.
11 For this cause the Lord was patient over them,
and poured out his mercy upon them.
12 He saw and perceived their end, that it is evil.
Therefore he multiplied his forgiveness.
13 The mercy of a man is on his neighbour;
but the mercy of the Lord is on all flesh:
reproving, chastening, teaching,
and bringing back, as a shepherd does his flock.
14 He has mercy on those who accept chastening,
and that diligently seek after his judgements.
15 My son, don’t add reproach to your good deeds,
and no harsh words in any of your giving.
16 Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat?
So a word is better than a gift.
17 Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift?
Both are with a gracious person.
18 A fool is ungracious and abusive.
The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes.
19 Learn before you speak.
Take care of your health before you get sick.
20 Before judgement, examine yourself,
and in the hour of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.
21 Humble yourself before you get sick.
In the time of sins, repent.
22 Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time.
Don’t wait until death to be released.
23 Before you make a vow, prepare yourself.
Don’t be like a man who tests the Lord.
24 Think about the wrath coming in the days of the end,
and the time of vengeance, when he turns away his face.
25 In the days of fullness remember the time of hunger.
Remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth.
26 From morning until evening, the time changes.
All things are speedy before the Lord.
27 A wise man is cautious in everything.
In days of sinning, he will beware of offence.‡
28 Every man of understanding knows wisdom.
He will give thanks to him who found her.
29 They who were of understanding in sayings also became wise themselves,
and poured out apt proverbs.
30 Don’t go after your lusts.
Restrain your appetites.
31 If you give fully to your soul the delight of her desire,
she will make you§ the laughing stock of your enemies.
32 Don’t make merry in much luxury,
and don’t be tied to its expense.
33 Don’t be made a beggar by banqueting with borrowed money
when you have nothing in your purse.†
19
1 A worker who is a drunkard will not become rich.
He who despises small things will fall little by little.
2 Wine and women will make men of understanding go astray.
He who joins with prostitutes is reckless.
3 Decay and worms will have him as their heritage.
A reckless soul will be taken away.
4 He who is hasty to trust is shallow-hearted.
He who sins offends against his own soul.
5 He who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned.†
6 ‡ He who hates gossip has less wickedness.
7 Never repeat what is told you,
and you won’t lose anything.
8 Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it.
Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it.
9 For if he has heard you and observed you,
when the time comes, he will hate you.
10 Have you heard something? Let it die with you.
Be brave: it will not make you burst!
11 A fool will travail in pain with a word,
as a woman in labour with a child.
12 As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh,
so is gossip in a fool.
13 Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it.
If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more.
14 Question your neighbour; it may be he didn’t say it.
If he has said it, it may be that he may not say it again.
15 Question a friend; for many times there is slander.
Don’t trust every word.
16 There is one who slips, and not from the heart.
Who is he who hasn’t sinned with his tongue?
17 Reprove your neighbour before you threaten him;
and give place to the law of the Most High. 18-19 §
20 All wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
In all wisdom is the doing of the law. 21 †
22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom.
The prudence of sinners is not counsel.
23 There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination.
There is a fool lacking in wisdom.
24 Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God,
than one who has much intelligence and transgresses the law.
25 There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust.
And there is one who perverts favour to gain a judgement.‡
26 There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning;
but inwardly he is full of deceit,
27 bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear.
Where he isn’t known, he will take advantage of you.
28 And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning,
if he finds opportunity, he will do mischief.
29 A man will be known by his appearance.
One who has understanding will be known by his face when you meet him.
30 A man’s attire, grinning laughter,
and the way he walks show what he is.
20
1 There is a reproof that is not timely;
and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent.
2 How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry.
He who confesses will be kept back from harm. 3 †
4 As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin,
so is he who executes judgements with violence.
5 There is one who keeps silent and is found wise;
and there is one who is hated for his much talk.
6 There is one who keeps silent, for he has no answer to make;
And there is one who keeps silent, knowing when to speak.
7 A wise man will be silent until his time has come,
but the braggart and fool will miss his
