1All wisdom is of 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 height] of heaven, and the breadth of earth, and the depth of the sea? Who ensearched 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 [or the word of God in heights]; and the entering of that wisdom is everlasting command-ments.

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 maker 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. And he shedded [or poured] out it on all his works,

10and on each flesh by [or after] his gift; he giveth it to them that love him.

11The dread of the Lord is glory, and glorying [or joying], and glad-ness, 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 days; and he shall be blessed in the day of his death. Forsooth they to whom wisdom appeareth in sight, that is, by revelation of prophecy, love it in sight, and in 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 right-wise] men and faithful.

15The dread of the Lord is religi-osity of knowing. 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 in the days of 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 generations, and receptacles of the treasures thereof.

18The crown of wisdom is the dread of the Lord, and filleth peace, and the fruit of health. And he saw, and numbered it; forsooth ever either be the gifts of God.

19Wisdom shall part 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 knowing 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 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 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 knowing; but the wor-shipping of God is abomination to a sinner.

26A! son, coveting wisdom, keep thou rightfulness [or rightwiseness], and God shall give it to thee.

27For why the dread of the Lord is wisdom, and knowing [or discipline], and that that is well pleasant [or well-pleased] to him is faith and mildness; and God shall fill the treasures of him [or it shall full-fill the treasures of him].

28Be thou not rebel, and unbelieve-ful to the dread of the Lord; and nigh thou not to him in [or with] double heart.

29Be thou not an hypocrite in the sight of men; and be thou not caused to stumble in thy lips.

30Take thou keep to those [things], lest thou fall, and bring dishonor to thy soul; and lest God show thy privates, and hurtle thee down in the midst of the synagogue, that is, of gathering together of faithful men; for thou nighedest wickedly [or malicious-ly] to the Lord, and thine heart was full of guile and of falseness [or treachery and deceit].