The Book of Wisdom
Chapter 1

1

¹ Love justice, you who judge the earth; think of the LORD in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart;

2

Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.

3

For perverse counsels separate a man from God, and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;

4

Because into a soul that plots evil wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.

5

² For the holy spirit of discipline flees deceit and withdraws from senseless counsels; and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.

6

For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips; Because God is the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his heart and the listener to his tongue.

7

³ For the spirit of the LORD fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what man says.

8

Therefore no one who utters wicked things can go unnoticed, nor will chastising condemnation pass him by.

9

For the devices of the wicked man shall be scrutinized, and the sound of his words shall reach the LORD, for the chastisement of his transgressions;

10

Because a jealous ear hearkens to everything, and discordant grumblings are no secret.

11

⁴ Therefore guard against profitless grumbling, and from calumny withhold your tongues; For a stealthy utterance does not go unpunished, and a lying mouth slays the soul.

12

Court not death by your erring way of life, nor draw to yourselves destruction by the works of your hands.

13

Because God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.

14

For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome, And there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of the nether world on earth,

15

For justice is undying.

16

It was the wicked who with hands and words invited death, considered it a friend, and pined for it, and made a covenant with it, Because they deserve to be in its possession,

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Footnotes

¹ [1] Justice: not merely the cardinal virtue of that name (cf Wisdom 8:7), but the universal moral quality which is the application of Wisdom to moral conduct.

² [5] Discipline: here and elsewhere, another name for Wisdom; injustice: the opposite of the virtue in Wisdom 1:1.

³ [7] This verse is applied to the Holy Spirit in the liturgy at Pentecost.

⁴ [11] Calumny: speech against God and his providence is meant.

New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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