1 Love justice, you that judge the earth. Think of our Lord in goodness, and in simplicity of heart seek him:
1 Love ¹justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart:
2 because he is found of them that tempt him not: and he appeareth to them that have faith in him.
2 ²For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he showeth himself to them that have faith in him.
3 For perverse cogitations separate from God: and proved power chasteneth the unwise:
3 For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise:
4 because wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins.
4 For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins.
5 For the Holy Ghost of discipline will fly from him that feigneth, and will withdraw himself from the cogitations that are without understanding, and he shall be chastened of iniquity ensuing.
5 For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.
6 For the spirit of wisdom is gentle, and will not deliver the curser from his lips: because God is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and an hearer of his tongue.
6 ³For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the evil speaker from his lips: ⁴for God is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
7 Because the Spirit of our Lord hath replenished the whole world: and that which containeth all things, hath the knowledge of voice.
7 ⁵For the spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.
8 For this cause he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgement pass him.
8 Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgment pass him by.
9 For in the cogitations of the impious there shall be examination: and the hearing of his works shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities.
9 For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly, and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities.
10 Because the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of murmurings shall not be hid.
10 For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of murmuring shall not be hid.
11 Keep yourselves therefore from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, because an obscure speech shall not pass in vain: and the mouth that lieth, killeth the soul.
11 Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.
12 Zeal not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye perdition by the works of your hands.
12 Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands.
13 Because God made not death, neither doth he rejoice in the perdition of the living.
13 ⁶For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.
14 For he created all things to be: and he made the nations of the earth to health: and there is no medicine of destruction in them, nor Kingdom of hell in the earth.
14 For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.
15 For justice is perpetual and immortal.
15 For justice is perpetual and immortal.
16 But the impious with hands & words have provoked it: and esteeming it a friend, have fallen to decay, and have made covenants with it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.
16 But the wicked with works and words have called it⁷ to them: and esteeming it a friend, have fallen away and have made a covenant with it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.