1 He that feareth God, shall do good things, and he that hath justice shall apprehend her,
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, & a wife from virginity she will receive him.
2 And she will meet him as an honorable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
3 She shall feed him with the bread of life and understanding, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made sure in him, and he shall not be bowed:
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, ¹and he shall not be moved.
4 and she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him before his neighbours,
4 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbors.
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 stole of glory.
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 Joy & exultation she shall heap upon him, & shall make him inherit an everlasting name.
6 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
7 Foolish men shall not apprehend her, & wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.
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: and true men shall be found in her, and shall have success, even to the beholding of God.
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 comely in the mouth of a sinner:
9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:
10 because wisdom proceeded from God. For praise shall be with the wisdom of God, & shall abound in a faithful mouth, & the dominatour will give praise to it.
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 by God, that she is absent: for do not thou the things that he hateth.
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 made me err: for impious men are not necessary for him.
12 Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.
13 Our Lord hateth all abomination of error, and it shall not be amiable to them, that fear him.
13 The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.
14 God from the beginning made man, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.
14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.
15 He added his commandments and precepts.
15 He added his commandments and precepts.
16 If thou will keep the commandment, and keep acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.
16 ²If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity forever, they shall preserve thee.
17 He hath set before thee water and fire: to which thou wilt, stretch forth thine hand.
17 He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.
18 Before man there is life and death, good and evil: what pleaseth him shall be given him:
18 ³Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:
19 Because the wisdom of God is much, and he is strong in might, seeing all men without intermission.
19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.
20 The eyes of our Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.
20 ⁴The 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 impiously, and he hath given no man space to sin:
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.
22 For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.