Wisdom’s origins

¹All wisdom comes from the Lord.

It lives with him forever.

²Who can count the grains of sand in the seas,

the drops of rain,

or the days of eternity?

³Who can discover heaven’s height,

the earth’s breadth,

the abyss, or wisdom?

⁴Wisdom was created before everything else.

Right understanding

is as old as eternity.

⁶To whom was Wisdom’s root revealed?

Who knew her wonderful feats?

⁸There is one who is wise, greatly feared,

seated upon his throne.

⁹The Lord himself created her;

he saw her; he measured her.

The Lord poured her out

over everything he made,

to be with each person

to the extent that God grants,

and he supplied her abundantly

to those who love him.

Fear of the Lord is Wisdom

¹¹Fear of the Lord is a person’s glory, boasting, gladness,

and crown of rejoicing.

¹²Fear of the Lord will cheer the heart,

and it will give gladness, joy,

and a long life.

¹³Things will go well at the end

for those who fear the Lord.

They will be blessed

at the time of death.

¹⁴Wisdom starts with fearing the Lord,

and she is joined to the faithful

even within the womb.

¹⁵Wisdom built her nest among human beings as an eternal foundation,

and they will entrust

their offspring to her.

¹⁶Wisdom is fully satisfied

with fearing the Lord,

and she will make people drunk

with her fruits.

¹⁷She will fill all their houses

with desirable things

and fill their storehouses

from her produce.

¹⁸Fearing the Lord

is Wisdom’s crowning garland,

sprouting forth peace

and restorative health.

¹⁹She rained down skill

and insightful knowledge,

and she raised up the reputation

of those who held on to her.

²⁰Fearing the Lord is Wisdom’s root,

and her branches yield a long life.

²²Unjust anger won’t be justified,

for the tipping point of one’s anger

is one’s downfall.

²³Patient people will hold themselves back

until the right moment,

and afterward they will be paid back

with joy.

²⁴They will hide their words

until the right moment,

and many will talk about

their good judgment.

²⁵There are intelligent proverbs

in Wisdom’s treasuries,

but sinners avoid godliness

like the plague.

²⁶If you want to find Wisdom,

then keep the commandments,

and the Lord will supply her to you in

vast quantities.

²⁷Fearing the Lord brings

wisdom and education.

He is pleased with faithfulness

and gentleness.

²⁸Don’t disobey the fear of the Lord,

and don’t approach him

with a divided heart.

²⁹Don’t give people reason

to call you a hypocrite,

and pay attention to what you say.

³⁰Don’t exalt yourself,

or else you might fall

and bring dishonor to yourself.

The Lord will reveal your secrets,

and he will overthrow you

in the middle of the congregation,

because you didn’t come

with proper regard for the Lord