¹The one who lives forever

created everything

in a common fashion.

²Only the Lord will be declared just.[#18.2 LXX adds 18:2b-3 and there is no other besides him. He steers the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will. By his power, he is the king of all things, dividing the holy things from the ordinary among them.]

⁴He has given no one the power

to proclaim his works.

Who can search out his majestic deeds?

⁵Who will measure

the power of his greatness?

Who will continue to recount his mercy?

⁶It’s impossible to diminish

or to increase these things,

and it’s impossible

to search out the wonders of the Lord.

⁷When people finish,

then they are just beginning,

and when they pause,

then they are puzzled.

⁸What are human beings,

and what use are they?

What’s good about them,

and what’s evil about them?

⁹The length of a person’s life

is as much as one hundred years.

¹⁰Like a drop of water from the sea

or a grain of sand,

so are a few years in the span of eternity.

¹¹Therefore, the Lord was patient

with them,

and he poured out his mercy upon them.

¹²He saw and knew that their end

was terrible;

therefore, his willingness to be reconciled increased.

¹³Neighbors display mercy

toward each other,

but the mercy of the Lord is for all beings:

¹⁴He shows mercy to those

who accept discipline

and to those who passionately pursue

his judgments.

Speech and self-control

¹⁵My child, let the good you do

be without blemish,

and don’t give harsh words

along with your gifts.

¹⁶Doesn’t dew put an end

to scorching heat?

So a word is better than a gift.

¹⁷Look! Doesn’t a word exceed a good gift?

And both come from a person

who is gracious.

¹⁸A fool reproaches ungraciously,

and a gift from a begrudging giver

becomes an eyesore.

¹⁹Learn before you speak,

and attend to yourself

before you get sick.

²⁰Examine yourself before judgment,

and you will be reconciled

when you are examined.

²¹Humble yourself before you get sick,

and when you commit sins

show a changed heart and mind.

²²Don’t be prevented from repaying

a solemn promise in a timely way,

and don’t wait until death

to be vindicated.

²³Prepare yourself before making

a solemn promise,

and don’t be like someone

who tests the Lord.

²⁴Be mindful of his wrath in times of death

and in times of vengeance

when he turns his face away.

²⁵Remember a time of hunger

in a time of plenty,

a time of poverty and want

in times of wealth.

²⁶From morning until evening

opportune times change,

and all things are fleeting

in the Lord’s presence.

²⁷Wise people exercise caution

in everything,

and in times of sin

they will take heed against error.

²⁸All intelligent people

have recognized Wisdom,

and they will acknowledge

anyone who finds her.

²⁹Those who are intelligent with words

have become wise themselves,

and they have poured forth

fitting proverbs.

Self-controlz

³⁰Don’t go after your desires,

and restrain yourself

from your appetites.

³¹If you cater to your desires,

you will become a laughingstock

to your enemies.

³²Don’t be glad for great luxury,

and don’t be made needy

by an encounter with it.

³³Don’t become poor

by feasting with borrowed money,

when you have nothing in your pocket.