Wisdom 1

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¹Love righteousness, you° that be judges of the earth: think of the Lord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek him.

²For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and shows himself to such as do not distrust him.

³For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproves the unwise.

⁴For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject to sin.

⁵For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness comes in.

⁶For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.

⁷For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world: and that which contains all things has knowledge of the voice.

⁸Therefore he that speaks unrighteous things can’t be hid: neither shall vengeance, when it punishes, pass by him.

⁹For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly: and the sound of his words shall come to the Lord for the manifestation of his wicked deeds.

¹⁰For the ear of jealousy hears all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid.

¹¹Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nothing: and the mouth that belies slays the soul.

¹²Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.

¹³For God made not death: neither has he pleasure in the destruction of the living.

¹⁴For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:

¹⁵(For righteousness is immortal:)

¹⁶But ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nothing, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.