Chapter 1

¹Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart. ²For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself to them that have faith in him. ³For perverse thoughts seperate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise: ⁴For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins. ⁵For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in. ⁶For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. ⁷For the spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that, which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice. ⁸Therefore he that speaketh unjust things cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgment pass him by. ⁹For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly: and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities. ¹⁰For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of murmuring shall not be hid. ¹¹Keep yourselves therefore from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul. ¹²Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands. ¹³For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living. ¹⁴For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth. ¹⁵For justice is perpetual and immortal. ¹⁶But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and esteeming it a friend have fallen away, and have made a covenant with it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.