1 of repeating gossip;and of revealing secrets—then you will be truly modestand find favor with every human being.Don’t be ashamed of these things,and don’t show favoritismso that you sin.
2 Don’t be ashamed:of the Law of the Most Highor the covenant,of a just verdictin favor of an ungodly person,
3 of keeping a record of expenses with a partner or a traveling companion,of distributing an inheritanceto others,
4 of accuracy with scales and weights,of acquiring a lot or a little,
5 of profit from business with merchants,of frequent discipline of children,and of whipping wickedhousehold slaves until they bleed.
6 In the case of a wicked wife,using your seal on your documents and supplies is an excellent idea,and lock up thingsanywhere there are lots of hands.
7 Whatever you deposit,whether by number and weight,and whatever you give or receive,put everything in writing.
8 Don’t be ashamed of disciplinefor the stupid and foolishand for the old codgerwho is guilty of sexual immorality.Then you will have been truly educatedand approved by everyone alive.
9 A daughter is a hidden sourceof sleeplessness for her father,and anxiety about her deprives himof sleep:in her youth, that she doesn’t passher prime,and when she’s married,that she not be hated;
10 while she’s a virgin,that she not be seducedand become pregnantwhile still living at home;when she’s married,that she not go straying;or having married,that she not be infertile.
11 Keep a strict watch overan unruly daughterso that she doesn’t make youan object of ridicule to your enemies,a topic of talk in the cityand the assembly of the people,and she shame you before the crowd.
12 Don’t consider the beautyof any person,and don’t spend time among women.
13 Moths come out of clothes,and a woman’s wickednesscomes from a woman.
14 A man’s wickednessis better than a woman who does goodand a disgraced womanwho brings shame.
15 Now I’ll call to mind the worksof the Lord,and I’ll tell about what I’ve seen.The Lord’s works came into beingby his words.
16 The shining sun looked downon everything,and the Lord’s work is radiantwith his glory.
17 The Lord has not allowed his holy onesto describe all of his wonders,which the Lord Almighty establishedso that the universe would stand firmin his glory.
18 He has searched the abyss and the heart,and he took their great achievementsinto consideration,because the Most Highknew everything to be known.He saw the sign of the age,
19 explaining what has passedand what will be,and revealing the clues to thingsthat are hidden.
20 No thought escaped him,and not a single wordwas hidden from him.
21 He ordered the splendors of his wisdom.He remains the samefrom the beginning of timeall the way to eternity.Nothing can be added to himnor be taken away,and he needed no one to give him advice.
22 How desirable are all of his works,and how brilliant they are to look upon.
23 All these things live and remain foreverin every circumstance,and everything obeys him.
24 All things exist in pairs,one opposite the other,and he made nothing thatwas incomplete.
25 Each thing strengthens the good partsof the other;who can get enough of seeingGod’s glory?