| 1 He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her, |
| 2 And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin. |
| 3 With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved: |
| 4 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours. |
| 5 And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory. |
| 6 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name. |
| 7 But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit. |
| 8 Lying men shall not be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God. |
| 9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner: |
| 10 For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it. |
| 11 Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth. |
| 12 Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men. |
| 13 The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it. |
| 14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel. |
| 15 He added his commandments and precepts. |
| 16 If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee. |
| 17 He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt. |
| 18 Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him: |
| 19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing. |
| 20 The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man. |
| 21 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin: |
| 22 For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children. |