1 He that fears the Lord will do this;
And he that has possession of the law shall obtain her.
2 And as a mother shall she meet him,
And receive him as a wife married in her virginity.
3 With bread of understanding shall she feed him,
And give him water of wisdom to drink.
4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved;
And shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.
5 And she shall exalt him above his neighbors;
And in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.
6 He shall inherit joy, and a crown of gladness,
And an everlasting name.
7 Foolish men shall not obtain her;
And sinners shall not see her.
8 She is far from pride;
And liars shall not remember her.
9 Praise is not comely in the mouth of a sinner;
For it was not sent him from the Lord.
10 For praise shall be spoken in wisdom;
And the Lord will prosper it.
11 Say not you, It is through the Lord that I fell away;
For you shall not do the things that he hates.
12 Say not you, It is he that caused me to err;
For he has no need of a sinful man.
13 The Lord hates every abomination;
And they that fear him love it not.
14 He himself made man from the beginning,
And left him in the hand of his own counsel.
15 If you will, you shall keep the commandments;
And to perform faithfulness is ofyour owngood pleasure.
16 He has set fire and water before you:
You shall stretch forth your hand to whichever you will.
17 Before man is life and death;
And whichever he likes, it shall be given him.
18 For great is the wisdom of the Lord:
He is mighty in power, and sees all things;
19 And his eyes are upon them that fear him;
And he will take knowledge of every work of man.
20 He has not commanded any man to be ungodly;
And he has not given any man licence to sin.