| 1 He who fears the LORD will do this; he who is practiced in the law will come to wisdom. | 1 Whoever fears the Lord wil act like this, and whoever grasps the Law wil obtain wisdom. |
| 2 Motherlike she will meet him, like a young bride she will embrace him, | 2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride. |
| 3 Nourish him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of learning to drink. | 3 She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink. |
| 4 He will lean upon her and not fall, he will trust in her and not be put to shame. | 4 He will lean on her and wil not fal , he wil rely on her and not be put to shame. |
| 5 She will exalt him above his fellows; in the assembly she will make him eloquent. | 5 She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in ful assembly she wil open his mouth. |
| 6 Joy and gladness he will find, an everlasting name inherit. | 6 He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he wil inherit an everlasting name. |
| 7 Worthless men will not attain to her, haughty men will not behold her. | 7 Fools wil not gain possession of her, nor will sinners set eyes on her. |
| 8 Far from the impious is she, not to be spoken of by liars. | 8 She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot cal her to mind. |
| 9 Unseemly is praise on a sinner's lips, for it is not accorded to him by God. | 9 Praise is unseemly in a sinner's mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord. |
| 10 But praise is offered by the wise man's tongue; its rightful steward will proclaim it. | 10 For praise should be uttered only in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it. |
| 11 Say not: "It was God's doing that I fell away"; for what he hates he does not do. | 11 Do not say, 'The Lord was responsible for my sinning,' for he does not do what he hates. |
| 12 Say not: "It was he who set me astray"; for he has no need of wicked man. | 12 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray,' for he has no use for a sinner. |
| 13 Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does not let it befall those who fear him. | 13 The Lord hates al that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either. |
| 14 When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice. | 14 He himself made human beings in the beginning, and then left them free to make their own decisions. |
| 15 If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will. | 15 If you choose, you will keep the commandments and so be faithful to his wil . |
| 16 There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. | 16 He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer. |
| 17 Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. | 17 A human being has life and death before him; whichever he prefers wil be given him. |
| 18 Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. | 18 For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and al -seeing. |
| 19 The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed. | 19 His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action. |
| 20 No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies. | 20 He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin. |