So you will be well instructed indeed
and approved in the sight of every living man.
9 A daughter is a secret cause of wakefulness to a father.
Care for her takes away sleep—
in her youth, lest she pass the flower of her age;
when she is married, lest she should be hated;
10 in her virginity, lest she should be defiled and be with child in her father’s house;
when she has a husband, lest she should transgress;
and when she is married, lest she should be barren.
11 Keep a strict watch over a headstrong daughter,
lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies,
a byword in the city and notorious amongst the people,
and shame you in public.
12 Don’t gaze at every beautiful body.
Don’t sit in the midst of women.
13 For from garments comes a moth,
and from a woman comes a woman’s wickedness.
14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a pleasant woman,
a woman who puts you to shame and disgrace.
15 I will make mention now of the works of the Lord,
and will declare the things that I have seen.
The Lord’s works are in his words.
16 The sun that gives light looks at all things.
The Lord’s work is full of his glory.
17 The Lord has not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works,
which the Almighty Lord firmly settled,
that the universe might be established in his glory.
18 He searches out the deep and the heart.
He has understanding of their secrets.
For the Most High knows all knowledge.
He sees the signs of the world.
19 He declares the things that are past and the things that shall be,
and reveals the traces of hidden things.
20 No thought escapes him.
There is not a word hidden from him.
21 He has ordered the mighty works of his wisdom.
He is from everlasting to everlasting.
Nothing has been added to them, nor diminished from them.
He had no need of any counsellor.
22 How desirable are all his works!
One may see this even in a spark.
23 All these things live and remain forever in all manner of uses.
They are all obedient.
24 All things are in pairs, one opposite the other.
He has made nothing imperfect.
25 One thing establishes the good things of another.
Who could ever see enough of his glory?
43
1 The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear sky,
the appearance of heaven, in the spectacle of its glory.
2 The sun, when it appears, bringing tidings as it rises,
is a marvellous instrument, the work of the Most High.
3 At noon, it dries up the land.
Who can stand against its burning heat?
4 A man tending a furnace is in burning heat,
but the sun three times more, burning up the mountains,
breathing out fiery vapours,
and sending out bright beams, it blinds the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord who made it.
At his word, he hastens on its course.
6 The moon marks the changing seasons,
declares times, and is a sign for the world.
7 From the moon is the sign of feast days,
a light that wanes when it completes its course.
8 The month is called after its name,
increasing wonderfully in its changing—
an instrument of the army on high,
shining in the structure of heaven,
9 the beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars,
an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord.
10 At the word of the Holy One, they will stand in due order.
They won’t faint in their watches.
11 Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it.
It is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.
12 It encircles the sky with its glorious circle.
The hands of the Most High have stretched it out.
13 By his commandment, he makes the snow fall
and swiftly sends the lightnings of his judgement.
14 Therefore the storehouses are opened,
and clouds fly out like birds.
15 By his mighty power, he makes the clouds strong
and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
16 At his appearing, the mountains will be shaken.
At his will, the south wind will blow.
17 The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth.
So does the northern storm and the whirlwind.
Like birds flying down, he sprinkles the snow.
It falls down like the lighting of locusts.
18 The eye is dazzled at the beauty of its whiteness.
The heart is amazed as it falls.
19 He also pours out frost on the earth like salt.
When it is freezes, it has points like thorns.
20 The cold north wind blows
and ice freezes on the water.
It settles on every pool of water.
The water puts it on like it was a breastplate.
21 It will devour the mountains, burn up the wilderness,
and consume the green grass like fire.
22 A mist coming speedily heals all things.
A dew coming after heat brings cheerfulness.
23 By his counsel, he has calmed the deep
and planted islands in it.
24 Those who sail on the sea tell of its dangers.
We marvel when we hear it with our ears.
25 There are also those strange and wondrous works in it—
variety of all that has life and the huge creatures of the sea.
26 Because of him, his messengers succeed.
By his word, all things hold together.
27 We may say many things, but couldn’t say enough.
The summary of our words is, “He is everything!”
28 How could we have strength to glorify him?
For he is himself the greater than all his works.
29 The Lord is awesome and exceedingly great!
His power is marvellous!
30 Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can!
For even yet, he will surpass that.
When you exalt him, summon your full strength.
Don’t be weary, because you can’t praise him enough.
31 Who has seen him, that he may describe him?
Who can magnify him as he is?
32 Many things greater than these are hidden,
for we have seen just a few of his works.
33 For the Lord made all things.
He gave wisdom to the godly.
44
1 Let us now praise famous men,
our ancestors in their generations.
2 The Lord created great glory in them—
his mighty power from the beginning.
3 Some ruled in their kingdoms
and were men renowned for their power,
giving counsel by their understanding.
Some have spoken in prophecies,
4 leaders of the people by their counsels,
and by their understanding, giving instruction for the people.
Their words in their instruction were wise.
5 Some composed musical tunes,
and set forth verses in writing,
6 rich men endowed with ability,
living peaceably in their homes.
7 All these were honoured in their generations,
and were outstanding in their days.
8 Some of them have left a name behind them,
so that others declare their praises.
9 But of others, there is no memory.
They perished as though they had not been.
They become as though they had not been born,
they and their children after them.
10 But these were men of mercy,
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten.
11 A good inheritance remains with their offspring.
Their children are within the covenant.
12 Their offspring stand fast,
with their children, for their sakes.
13 Their offspring will remain forever.
Their glory won’t be blotted out.
14 Their bodies were buried in peace.
Their name lives to all generations.
15 People will declare their wisdom.
The congregation proclaims their praise.
16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up,
an example of repentance to all generations.
17 Noah was found perfect and righteous.
In the season of wrath, he kept the race alive.
Therefore a remnant was left on the earth
when the flood came.
18 Everlasting covenants were made with him,
that all flesh should no more be blotted out by a flood.
19 Abraham was a great father of a multitude of nations.
There was none found like him in glory,
20 who kept the law of the Most High,
and was taken into covenant with him.
In his flesh he established the covenant.
When he was tested, he was found faithful.
21 Therefore he assured him by an oath
that the nations would be blessed through his offspring,
that he would multiply him like the dust of the earth,
exalt his offspring like the stars,
and cause them to inherit from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates River to the utmost parts of the earth.
22 In Isaac also, he established the same assurance for Abraham his father’s sake,
the blessing of all men, and the covenant.
23 He made it rest upon the head of Jacob.
He acknowledged him in his blessings,
gave to him by inheritance,
and divided his portions.
He distributed them amongst twelve tribes.
45
1 He brought out of him a man of mercy,
who found favour in the sight of all people,
a man loved by God and men, even Moses,
whose memory is blessed.
2 He made him equal to the glory of the saints,
and magnified him in the fears of his enemies.
3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease.
God glorified him in the sight of kings.
He gave him commandments for his people
and showed him part of his glory.
4 He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness.
He chose him out of all people.
5 He made him to hear his voice,
led him into the thick darkness,
and gave him commandments face to face,
even the law of life and knowledge,
that he might teach Jacob the covenant,
and Israel his judgements.
6 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses,
even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.
7 He established an everlasting covenant with him,
and gave him the priesthood of the people.
He blessed him with stateliness,
and dressed him in a glorious robe.
8 He clothed him in perfect splendour,
and strengthened him with symbols of authority:
the linen trousers, the long robe, and the ephod.
9 He encircled him with pomegranates;
with many golden bells around him,
to make a sound as he went,
to make a sound that might be heard in the temple,
for a reminder for the children of his people;
10 with a holy garment, with gold, blue, and purple, the work of the embroiderer;
with an oracle of judgement—Urim and Thummim;
11 with twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman;
with precious stones engraved like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller,
for a reminder engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel;
12 with a crown of
