| 1 | Whoever fears the Lord will do this, and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom. |
| 2 | She will come to meet him like a mother, and like a young bride she will welcome him. |
| 3 | She will feed him with the bread of learning, and give him the water of wisdom to drink. |
| 4 | He will lean on her and not fall, and he will rely on her and not be put to shame. |
| 5 | She will exalt him above his neighbors, and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly. |
| 6 | He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will inherit an everlasting name. |
| 7 | The foolish will not obtain her, and sinners will not see her. |
| 8 | She is far from arrogance, and liars will never think of her. |
| 9 | Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner, for it has not been sent from the Lord. |
| 10 | For in wisdom must praise be uttered, and the Lord will make it prosper. |
| 11 | Do not say, “It was the Lord’s doing that I fell away”; for he does not do what he hates. |
| 12 | Do not say, “It was he who led me astray”; for he has no need of the sinful. |
| 13 | The Lord hates all abominations; such things are not loved by those who fear him. |
| 14 | It was he who created humankind in the beginning, and he left them in the power of their own free choice. |
| 15 | If you choose, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. |
| 16 | He has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. |
| 17 | Before each person are life and death, and whichever one chooses will be given. |
| 18 | For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything; |
| 19 | his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every human action. |
| 20 | He has not commanded anyone to be wicked, and he has not given anyone permission to sin. |
