Catholic Public Domain Version

1 You should not quarrel with a powerful man, lest perhaps you may fall into his hands.

2 You should not contend with a wealthy man, lest perhaps he may bring an action against you.

3 For gold and silver have destroyed many, and have reached and corrupted even the hearts of kings.

4 You should not quarrel with a man who is full of words, for you should not cast wood upon his fire.

5 You should not confide in an ignorant man, lest he speak evil about your family.

6 You should not despise a man who turns himself away from sin, nor reproach him with it. Remember that we are all subject to correction.

7 You should not spurn a man in his old age. For we are all subject to growing old.

8 Do not be willing to rejoice at the death of your enemy, knowing that we all die, and that we do not want others rejoice over us.

9 You should not despise the discourse of those who are old and wise; instead, ponder their proverbs.

10 For from them, you will learn wisdom and intelligent doctrine, so as to serve great men without blame.

11 Do not allow the discourse of your elders to pass you by. For they have learned from their fathers.

12 And from them, you will learn understanding, and you will learn what response to give in a time of necessity.

13 You should not kindle the coals of sinners by arguing with them. For you might be scorched by the flame from the fire of their sins.

14 You should not stand against the face of a contemptuous person, otherwise he may sit down as if waiting in ambush against your words.

15 You should not lend to a man who is stronger than you. But if you do lend, consider it lost.

16 You should not promise beyond your ability. But if you do promise, consider how to fulfill it.

17 You should not judge against a judge. For he judges according to what is just.

18 You should not go forth on the way with an audacious man, lest perhaps he may burden you with his evils. For he goes forth according to his own will, and you will perish with him in his folly.

19 You should not start a conflict with an angry man, and you should not go into the desert with an audacious man. For shedding blood is nothing to him, and in a place where there is no help for you, he will overthrow you.

20 You should not hold counsel with the foolish. For they are not able to love anything except what pleases them.

21 You should not take counsel in the sight of an outsider. For you do not know what he will do next.

22 You should not reveal your heart to every man, lest perhaps he may offer a false kindness to you, and then speak reproachfully about you.

1 You should not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, lest she reveal, because of you, the malice of a wicked lesson.

2 You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded.

3 You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps.

4 You should not be continually in need of entertainment, nor should you be persuaded by it, lest perhaps you may perish by its effectiveness.

5 You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty.

6 You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance.

7 Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares.

8 Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty.

9 Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire.

10 Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street.

11 Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire.

12 You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch.

13 And you should not argue with her over wine, lest perhaps your heart may turn toward her, and by your emotion, you would be toppled into perdition.

14 You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him.

15 A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it.

16 You should not envy the glory and wealth of a sinner. For you do not know what may be his undoing in the future.

17 The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please.

18 Keep yourself far from a man having the power to kill, and then you will not have the fear of death suspended over you.

19 But if you do approach him, do nothing to offend, lest perhaps he may take away your life.

20 Know that this is a communion with death. For you would be entering the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of the grieving.

21 According to your ability, be cautious of your neighbor, and treat him as the wise and prudent would.

22 Let just men be your companions, and let your glory be in the fear of God.

23 And let the thought of God be in your mind, and let all your discourse be on the precepts of the Most High.

24 Works will be praised for the hands of the artists, and a leader of the people will be praised for the wisdom of his words, yet truly, the word of the elders will be praised for its understanding.

25 A man full of words is a dread to his city, but one who speaks rashly will be hated for his word.

1 A wise judge will judge his people, and the leadership of an understanding man will be steadfast.

2 As the judge of the people is, so also are his assistants. And whatever kind of man the ruler of a city is, of such a kind also are those who live in it.

3 A foolish king will be the ruin of his people. For cities will be inhabited through the understanding of those with power.

4 Power over the earth is in the hand of God, and, in due time, he will raise up a helpful leader over the earth.

5 The prosperity of a man is in the hand of God, and he will place his honor above the face of the scribe.

6 You should forget all injury done to you by your neighbor, and you should do nothing among the works of injury.

7 Arrogance is hateful in the sight of God and of men. And all iniquity among the nations is abominable.

8 A kingdom is transferred from one people to another because of injustices, and injuries, and contempt, and every kind of deceit.

9 But nothing is more wicked than a greedy man. Why should that which is earth and ashes be arrogant?

10 There is nothing more iniquitous than to love money. For such a one has sold even his own soul. For in his life, he casts aside his innermost being.

11 All power is of short life. A prolonged sickness is of grave concern to a physician.

12 A physician causes a sickness to be shortened. So also, a king is here today, and tomorrow he will die.

13 For when a man dies, he will inherit serpents, and wild beasts, and worms.

14 The beginning of the arrogance of man is apostasy from God.

15 For his heart has withdrawn from the One who made him. For arrogance is the beginning of all sin. Whoever holds to it, will be filled with evil words, and it will overthrow him in the end.

16 Because of this, the Lord has dishonored the gatherings of the evil, and he has destroyed them, even unto the end.

17 God has destroyed the seats of arrogant leaders, and he has caused the meek to be seated in their place.

18 The roots of arrogant nations, God has dried up, and the humble among these nations, he has planted.

19 The Lord has overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and he has utterly destroyed them, even to their foundation.

20 He has dried up some of them, and he has utterly destroyed them, and he has caused their memory to depart from the earth.

21 God has abolished the memory of the arrogant, and he has left behind only the memory of those who are humble in mind.

22 Arrogance was not created for men, nor was an angry temperament created for the gender of women.

23 Those who fear God among the offspring of men will be honored. But those among the offspring who ignore the commandments of the Lord will be dishonored.

24 In the midst of his brothers, a ruler has honor. And those who fear the Lord will have honor in his eyes.

25 The fear of God is the glory of the wealthy, and of the honorable, and of the poor.

26 Do not choose to despise a just man who is poor, and do not choose to magnify a sinful man who is rich.

27 The great man, and the judge, and the powerful have honor. But no one is greater than he who fears God.

28 Those who are free will serve an understanding servant. And a prudent and disciplined man will not murmur at correction. But an ignorant man will not be honored.

29 Do not choose to extol yourself in doing your work, and do not be unproductive during the time of distress.

30 He who works, and so abounds in all things, is better than he who boasts, and so lacks bread.

31 Son, preserve your soul in meekness, and give it honor according to its merit.

32 Who will justify one who sins in his soul? And who will honor one who dishonors his soul?

33 The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear. And there is a man who is honored because of his substance.

34 But if someone is glorified in poverty, how much more in substance? And whoever is glorified in substance, let him fear poverty.

1 The wisdom of one who is humble will exalt his head, and will cause him to sit down in the midst of great men.

2 You should not praise a man for his beauty, and you should not despise a man for his appearances.

3 The bee is small among flying things, but its fruit holds the summit of sweetness.

4 You should not glory in clothing at any time, and you should not let yourself be extolled in the day of your honor. For the works of the Most High alone are wondrous; and glorious and hidden and unseen are his works.

5 Many tyrants have sat upon a throne, and one whom no one would admire has worn a diadem.

6 Many powerful men have been powerfully cast down, and the illustrious have been handed over into the hands of others.

7 Before you inquire, you should not place blame on anyone; and when you have inquired, reprove justly.

8 Before you listen, you should not respond a word; and you should not interrupt in the middle of a discourse.

9 You should not contend in a matter which does not concern you, and you should not sit in judgment together with sinners.

10 Son, you should not be involved in many matters. And if you become rich, you will not be free from transgression. For if you pursue, you will not apprehend; and if you run ahead, you will not escape.

11 There is an impious man who labors and hurries and grieves, but all the more will he be without abundance.

12 There is a debilitated man in need of recovery, who is lacking in strength and abundant in poverty.

13 Yet the eye of God has looked with favor upon him for his benefit, and he has lifted him up from his humiliation, and he has exalted his head. And many have wondered at him, and they have honored God.

14 Good things and misfortune, life and death, poverty and wealth, are from God.

15 Wisdom, and discipline, and knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.

16 Error and darkness have been created by sinners. And those who exult in evil, grow old in evil.

17 The gift of God remains with the just man, and his advancement will have success unto eternity.

18 There is one who is enriched by spending sparingly, and this is the extent of his reward.

19 About this, he says: “I have found rest for myself, and now I alone will eat from my goods.”

20 But he does not know how much time will pass before death approaches, and then he must leave everything behind to others and die.

21 Stand fast in your covenant, and become familiar with it, and grow old in the work of your commandments.

22 You should not spend time in the works of sinners. Instead, trust in God and remain in your own place.

23 For it is easy, in the eyes of God, to make a pauper suddenly rich.

24 The blessing of God hurries to reward the just man, and in a fleeting hour his advancement bears fruit.

25 You should not say: “What do I need?” or, “What good will there be for me in this?”

26 You should not say: “I have enough for myself,” or, “What could be worse than this?”

27 In a day of good things, you should not be forgetful of misfortunes. And in a day of misfortunes, you should not be forgetful of good things.

28 For it is easy, in the sight of God, on the day of one’s passing, to repay each one according to his ways.

29 The affliction of an hour causes one to forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the uncovering of his works.

30 You should not praise any man before death. For a man is known by his children.

31 You should not bring every man into your house. For many are the snares of the deceitful.

32 For as a stomach with a bad smell vomits, and as a partridge is led into a cage, and like a deer led into a snare, so also is the heart of the arrogant. And it is like a bystander watching his neighbor fall.

33 For it lies in ambush, and then turns good into evil, and it will place the blame on the elect.

34 From one spark, a great fire grows; and from one deceitful man, much blood flows. But a very sinful man lies in ambush for blood.

35 Pay close attention to yourself before a harmful man, for he fabricates evils. Otherwise, he may lead over you a whispered reproach unceasingly.

36 Receive a stranger to yourself, and he will overthrow you with a whirlwind, and he will alienate you from what is your very own.

1 If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your good deeds.

2 Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.

3 For there is no good for someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant.

4 Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution.

5 Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.

6 Do good to the humble, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it.

7 For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious.

8 A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.

9 By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.

10 You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.

11 And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.

12 You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon.

13 Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous man and is involved in his sins.

14 For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.

15 An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit.

16 An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

17 And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.

18 An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.

19 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.

1 Whoever touches pitch will be contaminated by it. And whoever associates with the arrogant will be clothed by arrogance.

2 Whoever associates with those more honorable than himself sets a burden on himself. And so, you should have no fellowship with someone who is wealthier than you.

3 What will the cooking pot have in common with the earthen vessel? And when they collide with one another, one will be broken.

4 The rich man has suffered no injustice, and yet he fumes. But the poor man, though he has been wounded, will remain silent.

5 If you are generous, he will take you up; and when you have nothing, he will cast you aside.

6 If you possess, he will feast with you, and he will empty you, and he will not grieve over you.

7 If he has need of you, he will deceive you; and while smiling, he will give you hope. He will converse with you pleasantly, and he will say: “What is it that you need?”

8 And he will impress you with his foods, until he has drained you two or three times, and in the very end, he will ridicule you. And afterward, when he sees you, he will abandon you, and he will shake his head at you.

9 Humble yourself before God, and wait for his hands.

10 Be careful. Otherwise, having been seduced into foolishness, you will be humiliated.

11 Do not choose to be low in your wisdom, otherwise, having been brought low, you will be seduced into foolishness.

12 If you are invited by someone who is more powerful than you, you should decline. Otherwise, he will invite you all the more.

13 You cannot be rude to him, lest you be pushed away. And you cannot stray far from him, lest you be forgotten.

14 You cannot hold a discussion with him as with an equal. You should not trust his many words. For by much talking, he will probe you, and while smiling, he will question you about your secrets.

15 His cruel mind will store up your words; and he will not spare you from affliction, nor from prison.

16 Be cautious of yourself, and attend diligently to what you are hearing. For you are walking toward your own destruction.

17 Yet truly, while listening to these things, consider it as if it were a dream, and you will awaken.

18 Love God for your entire life, and call upon him for your salvation.

19 Every animal loves its own kind; so also every man loves those closest to himself.

20 All flesh will join with whatever is similar to itself, and every man will associate with whomever is similar to himself.

21 If a wolf would at any time have fellowship with a lamb, so also would a sinner have fellowship with the just.

22 What fellowship does a holy man have with a dog? Or what portion do the wealthy have with the poor?

23 In the desert, the wild donkey is the prey of the lion. So also are the poor the pasture of the rich.

24 And just as humility is an abomination to the arrogant, so also does the rich man abhor the poor man.

25 When a wealthy man has been shaken, he is strengthened by his friends. But when a lowly man has fallen, he is expelled even by those who know him well.

26 When a rich man has been deceived, many will help him recover; he has spoken arrogantly, and yet they justify him.

27 When a poor man has been deceived, in addition he is rebuked; he has spoken with understanding, and no place is given to him.

28 The rich man has spoken, and all remain silent, and they repeat his words, even to the clouds.

29 The poor man has spoken, and they say: “Who is this?” And if he stumbles, they will overthrow him.

30 Substance is good for him who has no sin on his conscience. And poverty is called very wicked by the mouth of the impious.

31 The heart of a man changes his face, either for better or for worse.

32 You will find, with difficulty and much labor, the sign of a good heart and a good face.

1 Blessed is the man who has not slipped because of a word from his mouth, and who has not been stung by grief because of an offense.

2 Happy is he who does not have sadness in his mind, and who has not fallen away from his hope.

3 Substance is senseless for a greedy and stingy man. And what would a spiteful man do with gold?

4 Whoever acquires unjustly, according to his own mind, gathers for others. For another will spend his goods lavishly.

5 Whoever is wicked to himself, to whom will he be good? For he will not take enjoyment in his own goods.

6 Whoever has ill will toward himself, nothing is more worthless than he is. But such is the reward of his wickedness.

7 And if he does good, he does it ignorantly and unwillingly. And in the very end, he realizes his own malice.

8 The eye of the spiteful man is wicked, and he averts his face and despises his own soul.

9 The eye of the greedy man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity. He will not be satisfied until he has consumed his own soul, withering it away.

10 An evil eye is directed at evil things. And he will not be satisfied by bread; instead, he will be needy and grieving at his own table.

11 Son, if you have anything, do good to yourself, and offer worthy oblations to God.

12 Remember that death has not been delayed, and that the covenant of the grave has been revealed to you. For the covenant of this world will pass away in death.

13 Do good to your friend before you die. And according to your ability, extend your hand and give to the poor.

14 Do not cheat yourself out of a good day, and do not let the smallest good gift pass you by.

15 Should you not leave it to others to divide your sorrows and labors by lot?

16 Give, and receive, and justify your soul.

17 Before your passing, accomplish justice. For in death, there is no food to be found.

18 All flesh grows old like the grass, and like the foliage that springs forth from a green tree.

19 Some spring up, and others fall away. Such is the generation of flesh and blood. One is finished, and another is born.

20 Every corruptible work will fail in the end. And its worker will go with it.

21 But every excellent work will be justified. And whoever worked it will be honored by it.

22 Blessed is the man who will abide in wisdom, and who will meditate on her righteousness, and who, in his mind, will consider the circumspection of God.

23 He considers her ways in his heart, and he finds understanding in her secrets. He goes after her like an investigator, and he is constant in her ways.

24 He gazes through her windows, and he listens at her door.

25 He rests next to her house, and, fastening a peg in her walls, he sets up his cottage by her hands. And so, good things will find rest in his cottage as time passes.

26 He will station his sons under her covering, and he will abide under her branches.

27 He will be protected by her covering from the heat, and he will rest in her glory.

1 Whoever fears God will do good. And whoever holds to justice will obtain it.

2 And like an honorable mother, she will meet him, and like a virgin bride, she will receive him.

3 She will feed him with the bread of life and understanding. And she give him to drink from the water of salvific wisdom. And she will be confirmed in him, and he will not waver.

4 And she will hold to him, and he will not be confounded. And she will exalt him, along with those closest to him.

5 And in the midst of the Church, she will open his mouth, and she will fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and she will clothe him with a robe of glory.

6 She will store up in him a treasure of rejoicing and exultation, and she will cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

7 But foolish men will not take hold of her. And though understanding men will meet her, foolish men will not catch sight of her. For she is far from arrogance and deceit.

8 Lying men will be wary of her. But men who speak the truth will be found with her, and they will have success, even when examined by God.

9 Praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner.

10 For wisdom was sent from God. And praise will stand before the wisdom of God, and praise will abound in the mouths of the faithful, and the sovereign Lord will give praise to wisdom.

11 You should not say: “It is because of God that wisdom is absent.” For you should not do what he detests.

12 You should not say: “He has led me astray.” For the impious are of no use to him.

13 The Lord hates all abominable error, and those who fear him will not love such things.

14 God established man from the beginning, and he left him in the hand of his own counsel.

15 He added his commandments and precepts.

16 If you choose to keep the commandments, and if, having chosen them, you fulfill them with perpetual fidelity, they will preserve you.

17 He has set water and fire before you. Extend your hand to whichever one you would choose.

18 Before man is life and death, good and evil. Whichever one he chooses will be given to him.

19 For the wisdom of God is manifold. And he is strong in power, seeing all things without ceasing.

20 The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, and he knows each one of the works of man.

21 He has commanded no one to act impiously, and he has given no one permission to sin.

22 For he does not desire a multitude of unfaithful and useless sons.

1 You should not rejoice in impious children, if they are successful; nor should you take delight in them, if the fear of God is not in them.

2 You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.

3 For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.

4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.

5 By means one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.

6 Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.

7 In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.

8 The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.

9 And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.

10 He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.

11 And this was so with six hundred thousand men, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. And if even a single obstinate person had escaped unpunished, it would be a wonder.

12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.

13 As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.

14 The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.

15 Every mercy will make a place for each man, according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his sojourn.

16 You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”

17 or, “Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?”

18 Behold: the heavens, and the heaven of the heavens, the abyss, and the entire earth, and the things that are within these, will be shaken by his gaze,

19 together with mountains and hills, and the foundations of the earth. When God casts his gaze upon them, they will be struck with trembling.

20 And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.

21 And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?

22 For many of his works are concealed. But who will announce the works of his justice? Or who will endure them? For the testament is far from some persons, and the examination of each thing is in its end.

23 Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.

24 Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.

25 And I will speak with equity about discipline, and I will strive to announce wisdom. So attend to my words in your heart, and I will speak with equity of spirit, about the virtues that God has set within his works from the beginning, and I will announce his knowledge in truth.

26 With the judgment of God, his works have been done from the beginning; and from their institution, he himself distinguished their parts and set their beginnings, in their kinds.

27 He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.

28 Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.

29 You should not be incredulous at his word.

30 Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness.

31 The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him.

1 God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image.

2 And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue according to himself.

3 He gave him the number and time of his days, and he gave him authority over all the things that are upon the earth.

4 He placed the fear of him over all flesh, and he had dominion over wild beasts and flying things.

5 He created from him a helper, similar to himself. He gave them counsel, and language, and sight, and hearing, and a heart, in order to think. And he filled them with the discipline of understanding.

6 He created within them the knowledge of the spirit. He filled their heart with understanding, and he showed them both good and evil.

7 He set his eye upon their hearts, to reveal to them the greatness of his works,

8 so that they might highly praise the name of sanctification, and give glory to his wonders, so that they might declare the greatness of his works.

9 In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance.

10 He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments.

11 And their eye saw the greatness of his honor, and their ears heard the honor of his voice, and he said to them: “Beware of all iniquity.”

12 And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor.

13 Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes.

14 Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler.

15 And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God.

16 And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.

17 The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.

18 The almsgiving of a man is like a seal upon him, which will guard the grace of a man like the pupil of an eye.

19 And afterward, it will rise up and repay them their reward, each one upon his head, and it will return to the hidden places of the earth.

20 Now, to the repentant, he has given the way of justice, and he has strengthened those lacking in patience, and he has fastened them to a destiny of truth.

21 Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.

22 Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.

23 Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.

24 And acknowledge the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the circumstances set before you and in prayer to the most high God.

25 Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God.

26 You should not linger in the error of the impious; confess before death. Confession perishes from the dead as if it were nothing.

27 Confess while living; you should give thanks while you are still alive and healthy. And you should praise God and glory in his compassion.

28 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert to him!

29 For not all things can be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and because they are pleased by the emptiness of malice.

30 What is brighter than the sun? Yet this will fail. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood has invented? And this will be reproved.

31 He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes.