1But he who gives his soul and meditates on the Law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients and will be occupied with prophecies.
2He will preserve the narratives of famous men and enter into the subtleties of parables.
3He will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs and be conversant with the riddles of parables.
4He will serve among great men and appear before a ruler; he will travel through the land of foreign nations, for he has tested good and evil among men.
5He will set his heart to rise early to the Lord who made him, and will plead before the Most High; he will open his mouth in prayer and make supplication for his sins.
6If the great Lord wills, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he himself will pour forth words of his wisdom, and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.
7He himself will direct his counsel and knowledge, and he will meditate on His hidden things.
8He himself will make known the instruction of his teaching, and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
9Many will praise his understanding, and it will never be blotted out; his memory will not depart, and his name will live for all generations.
10Nations will tell of his wisdom, and the assembly will declare his praise.
11If he lives on, he will leave a name greater than a thousand; and if he comes to rest, it is enough for him.
12I will still speak of what I have pondered, for I am filled like the full moon.
13Listen to me, holy sons, and blossom like a rose growing by a stream of water.
14Lift up your voice and bless together, and give thanks to Yahweh for all his works.
15With songs of the harp and all kinds of instruments, and so you will say with a shout:
16The works of God are all good; he provides for every need in its time.
17By his word he piles up water like a heap, and by the utterance of his mouth, its storehouse.
18He brings the desire of his will to pass, and there is no hindrance to his salvation.
19The deeds of all flesh are before him, and nothing is hidden from his eyes.
20He looks from everlasting to everlasting, and nothing is too wonderful or mighty for him.
21One cannot say, “Why this? For what purpose is that?” for everything will prove its worth in its time.
22His blessing overflows like the Nile, and like the River, it saturates the world.
23So his wrath dispossesses nations, and he turns a watered place into salt.
24His ways are straight for the blameless, but for the wicked they are full of obstacles.
25Good was allotted to the good from the beginning; so for the wicked, good and evil.
26The essentials for human life are water, fire, iron, and salt; the fat of wheat, milk and honey; the blood of the grape, olive oil, and clothing.
27All these things are good for the good, but for the wicked they are turned into evil.
28There are winds that were created for judgment, and in their anger they move mountains. In a time of wrath they show their strength, and they stir up a storm from the field.
29Fire and hail, famine and plague—these also were created for judgment.
30The tooth of the beast, scorpion and viper, and the avenging sword to destroy the wicked. All these were created for their purpose; they are in his storehouse and will be summoned at the proper time.
31At his command they rejoice, and in their assigned place they do not disobey his word.
32Therefore, from the beginning I have been steadfast; I have considered and have left it in writing.
33The works of God are all good; he provides for every need in its time.
34One cannot say, “This is worse than that,” for everything will prove its worth in its time.
35And now, with all your heart, sing praises, and bless the name of the Holy One.
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