Wisdom - The Old Testament

¹ Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him in simplicity of heart;

² for he will be found by those who do not put him to the test, revealing himself to those who do not mistrust him.

³ Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God, and power, when put to the test, confounds the stupid.

⁴ Wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin;

⁵ for the holy spirit of instruction flees deceitfulness, recoils from unintelligent thoughts, is thwarted by the onset of vice.

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.

⁷ For the spirit of the Lord fills the world, and that which holds everything together knows every word said.

⁸ No one who speaks what is wrong will go undetected, nor will avenging Justice pass by such a one.

⁹ For the schemes of the godless will be examined, and a report of his words will reach the Lord to convict him of his crimes.

¹⁰ There is a jealous ear that overhears everything, not even a murmur of complaint escapes it.

¹¹ So beware of uttering frivolous complaints, restrain your tongue from finding fault; even what is said in secret has repercussions, and a lying mouth deals death to the soul.

¹² Do not court death by the errors of your ways, nor invite destruction through the work of your hands.

¹³ For God did not make Death, he takes no pleasure in destroying the living.

¹⁴ To exist -- for this he created all things; the creatures of the world have health in them, in them is no fatal poison, and Hades has no power over the world:

¹⁵ for uprightness is immortal.

¹⁶ But the godless call for Death with deed and word, counting him friend, they wear themselves out for him; with him they make a pact, worthy as they are to belong to him.