1 The one who lives forevercreated everythingin a common fashion.
2 Only the Lord will be declared just.
4 He has given no one the powerto proclaim his works.Who can search out his majestic deeds?
5 Who will measurethe power of his greatness?Who will continue to recount his mercy?
6 It’s impossible to diminishor to increase these things,and it’s impossibleto search out the wonders of the Lord.
7 When people finish,then they are just beginning,and when they pause,then they are puzzled.
8 What are human beings,and what use are they?What’s good about them,and what’s evil about them?
9 The length of a person’s lifeis as much as one hundred years.
10 Like a drop of water from the seaor a grain of sand,so are a few years in the span of eternity.
11 Therefore, the Lord was patientwith them,and he poured out his mercy upon them.
12 He saw and knew that their endwas terrible;therefore, his willingness to be reconciled increased.
13 Neighbors display mercytoward each other,but the mercy of the Lord is for all beings:he corrects, instructs, teaches,and turns them back,as a shepherd does his flock.
14 He shows mercy to thosewho accept disciplineand to those who passionately pursuehis judgments.
15 My child, let the good you dobe without blemish,and don’t give harsh wordsalong with your gifts.
16 Doesn’t dew put an endto scorching heat?So a word is better than a gift.
17 Look! Doesn’t a word exceed a good gift?And both come from a personwho is gracious.
18 A fool reproaches ungraciously,and a gift from a begrudging giverbecomes an eyesore.
19 Learn before you speak,and attend to yourselfbefore you get sick.
20 Examine yourself before judgment,and you will be reconciledwhen you are examined.
21 Humble yourself before you get sick,and when you commit sinsshow a changed heart and mind.
22 Don’t be prevented from repayinga solemn promise in a timely way,and don’t wait until deathto be vindicated.
23 Prepare yourself before makinga solemn promise,and don’t be like someonewho tests the Lord.
24 Be mindful of his wrath in times of deathand in times of vengeancewhen he turns his face away.
25 Remember a time of hungerin a time of plenty,a time of poverty and wantin times of wealth.
26 From morning until eveningopportune times change,and all things are fleetingin the Lord’s presence.
27 Wise people exercise cautionin everything,and in times of sinthey will take heed against error.
28 All intelligent peoplehave recognized Wisdom,and they will acknowledgeanyone who finds her.
29 Those who are intelligent with wordshave become wise themselves,and they have poured forthfitting proverbs.
30 Don’t go after your desires,and restrain yourselffrom your appetites.
31 If you cater to your desires,you will become a laughingstockto your enemies.
32 Don’t be glad for great luxury,and don’t be made needyby an encounter with it.
33 Don’t become poorby feasting with borrowed money,when you have nothing in your pocket.