1The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.

2He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.

3He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.

4He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor.

5He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.

6He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.

7He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.

8For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:

9And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.

10And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

11He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

12Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.

13The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.

14Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.

15If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.

16I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.

17By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.

18Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.

19Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.

20Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:

21All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.

22At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:

23For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.

24The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.

25He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.

26There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.

27His blessing hath overflowed like a river.

28And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him.

29Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.

30Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.

31The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

32All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.

33There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.

34In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.

35Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.

36The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

37In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not transgress his word.

38Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing,

39All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.

40It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.

41Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and bless the name of the Lord.