1All wisdom is of (or from) the Lord God, and was ever with him, and is before the world.
2Who numbered the gravel of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of the world?
3Who measured the highness or the height of heaven, and the breadth of (the) earth, and the depth of the sea? Who ensearched (or searched for) the wisdom of God, that goeth before all things?
4Wisdom was formed first of all things, and the understanding of prudence, from the world, that is, from without beginning.
5The well of wisdom is the son of God in high things; and the entering of that wisdom is (the) everlasting commandments. The well of wisdom (is) the word of God in heights; and the in-going of it (is) everlasting commandments.
6To whom was the root of wisdom showed? and who knew the subtleties thereof?
7To whom was the lore or the discipline of wisdom showed, and made open? and who understood the multiplying of the entering thereof, that is, of the work thereof?
8One is the highest Creator or the maker (out) of nought of all things, almighty, and a mighty king, and worthy to be dreaded full much, sitting on the throne of that wisdom, and God having lordship.
9He formed it in the Holy Ghost, and he saw, and numbered, and he measured (it). And he shedded or poured out it up on all his works,
10and on each flesh by his gift or and upon all flesh after his gift; he giveth it to them that love him.
11The dread of the Lord is glory, and glorying or joying, and gladness, and a crown of full out joying.
12The dread of the Lord shall delight the heart; and shall give gladness and joy into the length of days.
13To him that dreadeth God, it shall be well in the last things, or in the last days; and he shall be blessed in the day of his death. Forsooth they to whom wisdom appeareth in sight, that is, by (the) revelation of prophecy, love it in sight, and in (the) knowing of his great things. The love of God is honourable wisdom.
14The beginning of wisdom is the dread of the Lord; and it is formed together in the womb with faithful men, and it goeth with chosen women, and it is known with just or rightwise men and faithful.
15The dread (or fear) of the Lord is religiosity of cunning, (or knowing, or knowledge). Religiosity shall keep, and shall justify the heart; and shall give mirth and joy. It shall be well to him that dreadeth God; and he shall be blessed in the days of his comfort or (the) ending of him.
16The fullness of wisdom is for to dread God; and fullness is of the fruits thereof.
17It shall fill each gift or each house of him of (or for) generations, and (the) receipts of (or the recep-tacles with) the treasures thereof.
18The crown of wisdom is the dread of the Lord, and filleth peace or ful-filling peace, and the fruit of health. And he saw, and numbered it; for-sooth ever either be the gifts of God.
19Wisdom shall part the cunning (or the knowing) and understanding of prudence; and it enhanceth the glory of them, that hold it.
20The root of wisdom is for to dread God; forsooth the branches thereof be long enduring or long living. Understanding and religiosity of cunning, (or knowing, or knowl-edge) be in the treasures of wisdom; but wisdom is abomination to sinners.
21The dread of the Lord putteth away sin, for he that is without dread of God, may not be or shall not be able to be justified;
22for why the wrathfulness of his pride or willfulness is the destroying of him.
23A patient man shall suffer the dis-eases of a proud man till into (a) time; and afterward there shall be yielding of mirth.
24Good wit shall hide the words of him till into a time; and the lips of many men shall tell out the wit of him.
25In the treasures of wisdom is signifying of cunning (or of knowing); but the worshipping of God is (an) abomination to a sinner.
26A! (or O) son, coveting wisdom, keep thou rightfulness or rightwise-ness, and God shall give it to thee.
27For why the dread of the Lord is wisdom, and cunning (or knowing), or discipline, and that that is well pleasant (or well-pleasing) to him is faith and mildness (or meekness); and God or it shall full-fill the treasures of him.
28Be thou not rebel(lious), and unbelieveful to the dread of the Lord; and nigh (or approach) thou not to him in or with (a) double heart.
29Be thou not an hypocrite in the sight of men; and be thou not slandered in (or caused to stumble by) thy lips.
30Take thou keep (or care) to those things, lest thou fall, and bring dishonor to thy soul; and lest God show thy privates (or thy secrets), or hid things, and hurtle thee down in the midst of the synagogue, that is, of (the) gathering together of faithful men; for thou nighedest wickedly or maliciously to the Lord, and thine heart was full of guile and of falseness.
