Wisdom of Solomon 1

Only the Righteous Obtain Wisdom

1Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of the Lord with a good heart, and in simplicity of heart seek him.[#Deut 1.16.]

2For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and showeth himself unto such as do not distrust him.[#Deut 4.29.]

3For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.

4For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.[#Rom 6.12,13,20; 7.14.]

5For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.[#Rom 8.1-7.]

God Punishes All Evil

6For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.[#Jer 17.10.]

7For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.[#Col 1.17; Eph 1.23.]

8Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid: neither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him.

9For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly: and the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord for the manifestation of his wicked deeds.

10For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid.

11Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought: and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul.[#Prov 19.9.]

12Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.

God Made Man for Life

13For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.[#Ezek 18.23,32; 2 Pet 3.9.]

14For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:[#Gen 1.31.]

15(for righteousness is immortal:)

The Ungodly Say that Death Ends All

16but ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.

King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
Published by: American Bible Society