But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, And no torment will touch them.
And having borne a little chastening, they will receive great good; Because God made trial of them, and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace he proved them, And as a whole burnt offering he accepted them.
And in the time of their visitation they will shine forth, And as sparks among stubble they will run to and fro.
They will judge nations, and have dominion over peoples; And the Lord will reign over them for evermore.
But the ungodly will be requited even as they reasoned, They which lightly regarded the righteous man, and revolted from the Lord;
And happy is the eunuch which has wrought no lawless deed with his hands, Nor imagined wicked things against the Lord; For there will be given him for his faithfulness a peculiar favor, And a lot in the sanctuary of the Lord more delightsome than wife or children.
For the end of an unrighteous generation is always grievous.
Better than this is childishness with virtue; For in the memory of virtue is immortality: Because it is recognized both before God and before men.
When it is present, men imitate it; And they long after it when it is departed: And throughout all time it marcheth crowned in triumph, Victorious in the strife for the prizes that are undefiled.
But the multiplying brood of the ungodly will be of no profit, And with bastard slips they will not strike deep root, Nor will they establish a sure hold.
But a righteous man, though he die before his time, will be at rest.
Being found well-pleasing to God he was beloved of him, And while living among sinners he was translated:
He was caught away, lest wickedness should change his understanding, Or guile deceive his soul.
Being made perfect in a little while, he fulfilled long years;
For his soul was pleasing to the Lord: Therefore hurried he out of the midst of wickedness.
But a righteous man that is dead will condemn the ungodly that are living, And youth that is quickly perfected the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age;
For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, And will not understand what the Lord purposed concerning him, And for what he safely kept him:—
Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness Before the face of those who afflicted him, And those who make his labors of no account.
How was he counted among sons of God? And how is his lot among saints?
Verily we went astray from the way of truth, And the light of righteousness shined not for us, And the sun rose not for us.
But the righteous live forever, And in the Lord is their reward, And the care for them with the Most High.
Therefore will they receive the crown of royal dignity And the diadem of beauty from the Lord’s hand; Because with his right hand will he cover them, And with his arm will he shield them.
He will put on righteousness as a breastplate, And will array himself with judgement unfeigned as with a helmet;
Because your dominion was given you from the Lord, And your sovereignty from the Most High; Who will search out your works, And will make inquisition of your counsels:
Because being officers of his kingdom you⌃ did not judge aright, Neither kept you⌃ law, nor walked after the counsel of God.
For the Sovereign Lord of all will not refrain himself for any man’s person, Neither will he reverence greatness; Because it is he that made both small and great, And alike he takes thought for all;
To you therefore, O princes, are my words, That you⌃ may learn wisdom and fall not from the right way.
For those who have kept holily the things that are holy will themselves be hallowed; And those who have been taught them will find what to answer;
And love of her is observance of her laws; And to give heed to her laws confirmeth incorruption;
And incorruption brings near to God;
If therefore you⌃ delight in thrones and sceptres, you⌃ princes of peoples, Honor wisdom, that you⌃ may reign forever.
But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world, And an understanding king is tranquillity to his people.
But she reaches from one end of the world to the other with full strength, And ordereth all things graciously.
And if a man loves righteousness, The fruits of wisdom’s labor are virtues, For she teaches soberness and understanding, righteousness and courage; And there is nothing in life for men more profitable than these.
Because of her I will have glory among multitudes, And honor in the sight of elders, though I be young.
I will govern peoples, And nations will be subjected to me.
Dread princes will fear me when they hear of me: Among my people I will show myself a good ruler, and in war courageous.
And rule the world in holiness and righteousness, And execute judgement in uprightness of soul;
For she knows all things and has understanding thereof, And in my doings she will guide me in ways of soberness, And she will guard me in her glory.
And so will my works be acceptible, And I will judge your people righteously, And I will be worthy of my father’s throne.
And it was thus that the ways of them which are on earth were corrected, And men were taught the things that are pleasing to you; And through wisdom were they saved.
And when for his cause the earth was drowning with a flood, Wisdom again saved it, Guiding the righteous man’s course by a poor piece of wood.
Moreover, when nations consenting together in wickedness had been confounded, Wisdom knew the righteous man, and preserved him blameless to God, And kept him strong when his heart yearned toward his child.
While the ungodly were perishing, wisdom delivered a righteous man, When he fled from the fire that descended out of heaven on Pentapolis.
When a righteous man was a fugitive from a brother’s wrath, wisdom guided him in straight paths; She showed him God’s kingdom, and gave him knowledge of holy things; She prospered him in his toils, and multiplied the fruits of his labor;
When in their covetousness men dealt hardly with him, She stood by him and made him rich;
When a righteous man was sold, wisdom forsook him not, But from sin she delivered him; She went down with him into a dungeon,
Wisdom delivered a holy people and a blameless seed from a nation of oppressors.
Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly; And they sang praise to your holy name, O Lord, And extolled with one accord your hand that fought for them:
Yes and whether they were far off from the righteous or near them, they were alike distressed;
For him who long before was cast forth and exposed they left off mocking: In the last issue of what came to pass they marveled, Having thirsted in another manner than the righteous.
For to be greatly strong is your at all times; And the might of your arm who shall withstand?
That the land which in your sight is most precious of all lands Might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants.
For neither is there any God beside you that careth for all, That you might show to him that you did not judge unrighteously:
But being righteous you rule all things righteously, Deeming it a thing alien from your power To condemn one that does not himself deserve to be punished.
For your strength is the beginning of righteousness, And your sovereignty over all makes you to forbear all.
But you did teach your people by such works as these, How that the righteous must be a lover of men; And you did make your sons to be of good hope, Because you give repentance when men have sinned.
For blessed has been wood through which comes righteousness:
For to be acquainted with you is perfect righteousness, And to know your dominion is the root of immortality.
For, what was most marvelous of all, In the water which quenches all things the fire wrought yet more mightily; For the world fights for the righteous.
And at another time even in the midst of water it burns above the power of fire, That it may destroy the fruits of an unrighteous land.
And that this element again, in order that righteous men may be nourished, Hath even forgotten its own power.
So by your people was expected salvation of the righteous and destruction of the enemies;
But it befell the righteous also to make trial of death, And a multitude were stricken in the wilderness: Howbeit the wrath endured not for long.
For a blameless man hurried to be their champion: Bringing the weapon of his own ministry, Even prayer and the propitiation of incense, He withstood the indignation, and set an end to the calamity, Shewing that he was your servant.
For in all things, O Lord, you did magnify your people, And you did glorify them and not lightly regard them; Standing by their side in every time and place.
Whoso fears the Lord, it will go well with him at the last, And in the day of his death he will be blessed.
And he that gives glory to his mother is as one that lays up treasure.
The greater you are, humble yourself the more, And you will find favor before the Lord.
Water will quench a flaming fire; And almsgiving will make atonement for sins.
Deliver him that is wronged from the hand of him that wrongeth him; And be not faint-hearted in giving judgement.
They that do her service will minister to the Holy One; And those who love her the Lord does love.
He that gives ear to her will judge the nations; And he that gives heed to her will dwell securely.
Accept not the person of any against your soul; And reverence no man to your falling.
Lay not yourself down for a fool to tread upon; And accept not the person of one that is mighty.
Set not your heart upon unrighteous gains: For you will profit nothing in the day of calamity.
My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, And you shall not reap them sevenfold.
Seek not to be a judge, Lest you be not able to take away iniquities; Lest haply you fear the person of a mighty man, And lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness.
Entreat not evil a servant that works truly, Nor a hireling that gives you his life.
Let just men be the companions of your board; And let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord.
A wise judge will instruct his people; And the government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.
As is the judge of his people, so are his ministers; And as is the ruler of the city, such are all those who dwell therein.
An uninstructed king will destroy his people; And a city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.
In the hand of the Lord is the authority of the earth; And in due time he will raise up over it one that is profitable.
Pride is hateful before the Lord and before men; And in the judgement of both will unrighteousness err.
The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers, And set the meek in their stead.
The rich man, and the honorable, and the poor, Their glorying is the fear of the Lord.
It is not right to dishonor a poor man that has understanding; And it is not fitting to glorify a man that is a sinner.
The great man, and the judge, and the mighty man, will be glorified; And there is not one of them greater than he that fears the Lord.
The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, And make him to sit in the midst of great men.
The gift of the Lord remains with the godly, And his good pleasure will prosper forever.
The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly; And in an hour that comes swiftly he makes his blessing to flourish.
For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord To reward a man in the day of death according to his ways.
Do good to a godly man, and you will find a recompense; And if not from him, yet from the Most High.
Give to the godly man, And help not the sinner.
Do good to one that is lowly, And give not to an ungodly man: Keep back his bread, and give it not to him, Lest he overmaster you thereby: For you will receive twice as much evil For all the good you will have done to him.
Give to the good man, And help not the sinner.
The rich man does a wrong, and he threatens withal: The poor is wronged, and he will entreat withal.
What fellowship shall the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner to the godly.












