Wisdom 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him insimplicity of heart;	1 Love justice, you who judge the earth; think of the LORD in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart;
2 for he wil be found by those who do not put him to the test, revealing himself to those who do notmistrust him.	2 Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
3 Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God, and power, when put to the test, confounds thestupid.	3 For perverse counsels separate a man from God, and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
4 Wisdom wil never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin;	4 Because into a soul that plots evil wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
5 for the holy spirit of instruction flees deceitfulness, recoils from unintel igent thoughts, is thwarted by theonset of vice.	5 For the holy spirit of discipline flees deceit and withdraws from senseless counsels; and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
6 Wisdom is a spirit friendly to humanity, though she will not let a blasphemer's words go unpunished;since God observes the very soul and accurately surveys the heart, listening to every word.	6 For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips; Because God is the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his heart and the listener to his tongue.
7 For the spirit of the Lord fil s the world, and that which holds everything together knows every word said.	7 For the spirit of the LORD fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
8 No one who speaks what is wrong will go undetected, nor will avenging Justice pass by such a one.	8 Therefore no one who utters wicked things can go unnoticed, nor will chastising condemnation pass him by.
9 For the schemes of the godless wil be examined, and a report of his words wil reach the Lord toconvict him of his crimes.	9 For the devices of the wicked man shall be scrutinized, and the sound of his words shall reach the LORD, for the chastisement of his transgressions;
10 There is a jealous ear that overhears everything, not even a murmur of complaint escapes it.	10 Because a jealous ear hearkens to everything, and discordant grumblings are no secret.
11 So beware of uttering frivolous complaints, restrain your tongue from finding fault; even what is said insecret has repercussions, and a lying mouth deals death to the soul.	11 Therefore guard against profitless grumbling, and from calumny withhold your tongues; For a stealthy utterance does not go unpunished, and a lying mouth slays the soul.
12 Do not court death by the errors of your ways, nor invite destruction through the work of your hands.	12 Court not death by your erring way of life, nor draw to yourselves destruction by the works of your hands.
13 For God did not make Death, he takes no pleasure in destroying the living.	13 Because God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.
14 To exist -- for this he created all things; the creatures of the world have health in them, in them is nofatal poison, and Hades has no power over the world:	14 For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome, And there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of the nether world on earth,
15 for uprightness is immortal.	15 For justice is undying.
16 But the godless cal for Death with deed and word, counting him friend, they wear themselves out forhim; with him they make a pact, worthy as they are to belong to him.	16 It was the wicked who with hands and words invited death, considered it a friend, and pined for it, and made a covenant with it, Because they deserve to be in its possession,