¹Happy are those

who haven’t slipped in their speech

and who haven’t been stabbed

with pain for their sins.

²Happy are those

whose spirit hasn’t condemned them,

and who haven’t given up their hope.

On wealth

³Wealth isn’t good for a mean person.

What use is money

to a begrudging person?

⁴Those who deny themselves

collect for others,

and others will live luxuriously

with their goods.

⁵Those who are evil to themselves,

to whom will they be good?

They will never enjoy their money.

⁶There are none worse than those

who begrudge themselves,

and this is the payback

for their wickedness:

⁷If they do good,

they do it without being aware,

and in the end they reveal

their wickedness.

⁸The miserly are evil;

they turn their face away

and disregard people.

⁹Those who have greedy eyes

are never satisfied with their share,

and evil injustice withers their soul.

¹⁰Envious people are even begrudging

when it comes to bread,

and it’s lacking on their table.

¹¹My child, treat yourself well

according to what you have,

and bring offerings to the Lord

that are worthy.

¹²Remember that death won’t delay,

and the decree of the grave

hasn’t been shown to you.

¹³Before you die, treat your friends well.

According to your ability, reach out, and give to them.

¹⁴Enjoy a good day,[#14.14 LXX Don’t hold back from]

and don’t let your share

of a good desire pass you by.

¹⁵Won’t you end up leaving behind

to another what you have worked

so hard for?

Won’t the things you have toiled for

end up being divided by lot?

¹⁶Give, take, and distract yourself,[#14.16 Heb treat yourself well]

because you can’t search for luxury

in the grave.

¹⁷All flesh grows old like a garment;

the ancient decree is,

“You will certainly die!”

¹⁸Like a budding leaf on a leafy tree,

it sheds some and it puts forth others;

so is a generation of flesh and blood;

one dies, and another is born.

¹⁹All deeds decay and cease,

and those who do them

will pass away with them.

Seeking Wisdom brings happiness

²⁰Happy are those who meditate

on Wisdom

and who reason intelligently.

²¹Those who consider her ways

in their hearts

will also reflect on her secrets.

²²Pursue her like a hunter,

and lie in wait by her paths.

²³Those who peer into her windows

will also listen at her doorways.

²⁴Those who lodge near her house

will also fasten a tent peg in her walls.

²⁵They will pitch their tent close at hand

and will find accommodation

in a lodging place full of good things.

²⁶They will put their children

under her shelter,

and will encamp under her branches.

²⁷She will shelter them from the heat,

and they will dwell in her glory.