Majesty of God

¹ He who lives for ever created the whole universe;

² the Lord alone will be declared righteous.

⁴ To none has he given power to proclaim his works; and who can search out his mighty deeds?

⁵ Who will measure his majestic power? And who will fully recount his mercies?

⁶ It is not possible to diminish or increase them, nor is it possible to trace the wonders of the Lord. ⁷ When a person has finished, then he is just beginning, and when he stops, he will be at a loss. ⁸ What is a human being, and of what use is he? What is his good and what is his evil?

⁹ The number of a person’s days is great if he reaches one hundred years.

¹⁰ Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand so are a few years in the day of eternity.

¹¹ Therefore the Lord is patient with them and pours out his mercy upon them.

¹² He sees and recognizes that their end will be evil; therefore he grants them forgiveness in abundance.

¹³ The compassion of a person is for his neighbour, but the compassion of the Lord is for all living beings. He rebukes and trains and teaches them and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.

¹⁴ He has compassion on those who accept his discipline and who are eager for his judgements.

The Right Spirit in Giving Alms

¹⁵ Child, do not mix reproach with your good deeds or cause grief by your words when you present a gift.

¹⁶ Does not the dew assuage the scorching heat? So a word is better than a gift.

¹⁷ Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift? Both are to be found in a gracious man.

¹⁸ A fool is ungracious and abusive, and the gift of a grudging person makes the eyes waste away.

Need of Reflection and Self-control

¹⁹ Before you speak, learn, and before you fall ill, take care of your health.

²⁰ Before judgement, examine yourself, and in the hour of visitation you will find forgiveness.

²¹ Before falling ill, humble yourself, and when you are on the point of sinning, turn back.

²² Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly, and do not wait until death to be released from it.

²³ Before making a vow, prepare yourself; and do not be like a person who tests the Lord.

²⁴ Think of his wrath on the day of death and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face.

²⁵ In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger; in the days of wealth think of poverty and need.

²⁶ From morning to evening conditions change, and all things move swiftly before the Lord.

²⁷ A wise person will be cautious in everything, and in days of sin he will guard against wrong doing.

²⁸ Every intelligent person knows wisdom, and he will acknowledge the one who finds her.

²⁹ Those who understand sayings become skilled themselves and pour forth apt proverbs.

Concerning Self-control

³⁰ Do not follow your desires and restrain yourself from your appetites.

³¹ If you give your soul the satisfaction of desire, it will make you the laughing-stock of your enemies.

³² Do not revel in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense.

³³ Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money, when you have nothing in your purse.