The Greatness of God

¹He who lives forever created all the universe.

²The Lord alone is just.[#18:2 Some manuscripts add verses 2b-3, and there is no other beside him. He steers the world with the touch of his hand, and all things obey his will. For he is king of all things; by his power he can separate the holy from the profane.]

⁴He has given no one the power to fully proclaim his works.

Who can search out his mighty deeds?

⁵Who can measure his majestic power?

And who is able to tell about his mercy?

⁶None of these things can be diminished or enlarged.

No one can search out the wonders of the Lord.

⁷When people finish recounting them, they are still at the beginning;

when they stop, they are still puzzled.

⁸What are mere mortals, and what is their purpose?

What is good in them, and what is evil?

⁹The lifespan of a person

is a hundred years at most.

¹⁰Like a drop of water from the sea or a grain of sand,

so are these few years compared to eternity.

¹¹For this reason the Lord is patient with them

and pours out his mercy on them.

¹²He recognizes how harsh their end is,

so he grants them forgiveness all the more.

¹³Human compassion extends to one’s neighbor,

but the Lord’s mercy reaches every living thing.

He trains, corrects, and teaches them;

he brings them back as a shepherd does with his flock.

¹⁴He has compassion on all who accept his guidance

and who are eager to obey his laws.

Using Caution and Good Judgment

¹⁵My child, don’t scold while doing good deeds

or ruin your generous deeds by speaking harshly.

¹⁶Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat?

So also a word is better than a gift.

¹⁷Certainly a word is worth more than a good gift, isn’t it?

A gracious person gives both.

¹⁸A fool is ungracious and offensive.

The gift of a stingy person is an eyesore.

¹⁹Learn before you speak.

Take care of your health before you get sick.

²⁰Examine yourself before judgment comes,

and you will receive forgiveness in the time of reckoning.

²¹Humble yourself before you get sick,

and when you sin, repent.

²²Don’t let anything keep you from fulfilling a vow promptly,

and don’t go to your grave before you have fulfilled your vow.

²³Before you make a vow, prepare yourself,

and don’t be like a person who tries the Lord’s patience.

²⁴Think about the wrath that awaits you at death

and the time of vengeance when the Lord turns away his face.

²⁵Remember times of hunger during times of plenty,

and remember times of poverty and need when you are wealthy.

²⁶From dawn to dusk conditions change,

and the Lord watches all things move swiftly.

²⁷Wise people are cautious in everything

and take care not to participate in the sins that surround them.

²⁸Every sensible person recognizes wisdom

and praises the one who finds her.

²⁹Those who are skilled with words become wise

and pour out fitting proverbs.

Self-Control

³⁰Don’t be ruled by your passions;

restrain your desires.

³¹If you give in to your passions,

they will make a mockery of you before your enemies.

³²Don’t indulge in great luxury,

for you may go broke from the cost.

³³Do not make yourself poor by feasting with borrowed money

when you have nothing in your pocket.