Wisdom of Solomon 1

¹ Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth:

think of the Lord with a good (heart),

and in simplicity of heart seek him.

² For he will be found of them that tempt him not;

and showeth himself unto such as do not distrust him.

³ For froward thoughts separate from God:

and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.

⁴ For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter:

nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.

⁵ For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit,

and remove from thoughts that are without understanding,

and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.

⁶ For wisdom is a loving spirit;

and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words:

for God is witness of his reins,

and a true beholder of his heart,

and a hearer of his tongue.

⁷ For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world:

and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.

⁸ Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hidden:

neither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him.

⁹ For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly:

and the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord

for the manifestation of his wicked deeds.

¹⁰ For the ear of jealousy heareth all things:

and the noise of murmurings is not hid.

¹¹ Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable;

and refrain your tongue from backbiting:

for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought:

and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul.

¹² Seek not death in the error of your life:

and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.

¹³ For God made not death:

neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.

¹⁴ For he created all things, that they might have their being:

and the generations of the world were healthful;

and there is no poison of destruction in them,

nor the kingdom of death upon the earth

¹⁵ (for righteousness is immortal):

¹⁶ but ungodly men with their works and words called it to them:

for when they thought to have it their friend,

they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it,

because they are worthy to take part with it.