1 Negrēko, lai izpatiktu,
un, redzi, no kā nekaunies:
2 no Visuaugstākā bauslības un derības,
no taisnīga sprieduma spriešanas bezdievīgajam;
3 no norēķināšanās ar līdzbiedru un ceļabiedru,
no draugu mantojuma sadalīšanas;
4 no pareiziem svariem un atsvariem,
no liela vai neliela pirkuma;
5 no peļņas tirdzniecības darījumos,
no nopietnas bērnu mācīšanas,
no sānu slānīšanas nelietīgiem kalpiem.
6 Labāk aizzīmogot, ja nekrietna sieva.
Kur roku daudz – slēdz ciet!
7 Ja kādam dod, dod pēc skaita vai mēra
un visu rakstiski – gan doto, gan saņemto!
8 Nekaunies pamācīt nelgu un muļķi,
un to, kas lielā vecumā strīdas ar jauno.
Tad būsi patiešām mācīts
un no dzīvajiem ikviens tevi novērtēs atzinīgi.
Tēvs un meita
9 Meita nozīmē slēptu nomodu tēvam,
miegs gaist, par viņu raizējoties,
lai jaunībā nepaliek vecmeitās
un apprecējusies ir ieredzēta;
10 lai jaunavībā viņu neapgāna
un viņa nedabū bērnu tēva mājās;
lai, apņēmusi vīru, nenoklīst neceļos
un nepaliek bez bērniem apprecējusies.
11 Stingri uzraugi tiepīgu meitu,
lai taviem naidniekiem nebūtu ko ļauni līksmoties,
pilsētniekiem ko aprunāt, tautai ko tiesāt
un ļaužu pulkā viņas dēļ nebūtu jākaunas.
12 Nav ko rādīties tai savā daiļumā katram
un nav ko sēdēt sievu pulkā:
13 no drānām ceļas kodes,
un sievietes nekrietnums – no sievām.
14 Vīrieša nekrietnība nav tik ļauna kā sievietes vēlīgums,
kā kauns un apvainojumi, ko sagādā sieva.
Dieva godība un gudrība pasaulē. Radītājs
15 Es atgādināšu, ko veicis Kungs,
ko esmu redzējis, to izklāstīšu:
Kunga veiktais – ar viņa teikto,
nolemtais – ar viņa labvēlību noticis.
16 Saule noraugās uz visu spīdot;
Kunga paveiktais viņa godības pilns.
17 Saviem svētajiem nav atvēlējis Kungs
visus viņa brīnumdarbus izstāstīt,
kurus viņš, Visuvaldītājs, ir licis pamatos,
lai viņa godībā balstītos viss.
18 Viņš izpēta sirdis un bezdibens dzīles,
to varenajā veikumā iedziļinās.
Viss zināmais Visuaugstajam zināms,
viņš lūkojas laiku zīmēs,
19 gan pagātni, gan nākotni vēstīdams
un apslēptā pēdas pavērdams skatienam.
20 Neviena doma nepaslīd viņam garām,
nepaliek apslēpts ne vārds.
21 Viņš īsteno savas gudrības diženos darbus.
Kā pirms mūžiem viņš bijis, tā mūžam būs:
ne ko pielikt, ne atņemt viņam,
neviena padoms nav vajadzīgs.
22 Cik brīnumjauki visi tavi darbi;
kā dzirksteles, nenoskatīties vien!
23 Tie visi dzīvo un paliek mūžam,
tie paklausa, lai kas ir vajadzīgs.
24 Viss ir pa pārim, viens otram atbilst,
nekas no viņa darītā nav nepilnīgs,
25 viens otra labo nostiprina.
Viņa godībā vērties – kam gan reiz pietiktos?
A Sense of Pride
1 On the other hand, it is possible to sin by giving in to other people too much. Here are some things you should not be ashamed of:
2 the Law of the Most High and his covenant,
judging even godless people fairly,
3 sharing expenses with a business partner or a traveling companion,
sharing an inheritance,
4 using accurate weights and measures,
5 making a profit, whether great or small,
bargaining with a merchant,
disciplining your children often,
beating a disloyal slave until the blood flows.
6 It is wise to lock things up if you cannot trust your wife or if too many people are around. 7 Keep an accurate record of any deposits you make or of anything you give or receive. 8 Don't hesitate to correct someone who is acting foolishly or an old man who goes around with prostitutes. All of this is worthwhile advice, and if you follow it, everyone will approve of your behavior.
Fathers and Daughters
9 Although he will not let his daughter know it, a father will lie awake at night worrying about her. If she is young, he worries that she might not get married. If she is already married, he worries about her happiness. 10 If she is a virgin, he worries that she might be seduced and become pregnant while living in his house. If she is married, he worries that she might be unfaithful, or that she might not be able to have children.
11 Keep a close watch over your daughter if she is determined to have her own way. If you don't, she may make a fool of you in front of your enemies. You will be a constant joke to everyone in town, a public disgrace. Make sure that her room has no windows or any place where she can look out to the entrance of the house. 12 Don't let her show off her beauty in front of men, or spend her time talking with the women. 13 Women hurt other women just as moths damage clothing.
14 A man's wickedness is better than a woman's goodness; women bring shame and disgrace.
The Glory of God in Nature
15 Now I will remind you of the works of the Lord
and describe the things I have seen.
The words of the Lord brought his works into being,
and the whole creation obeys his commands.
16 The light of the sun shines down on everything,
and everything is filled with the Lord's glory.
17 Not even to his holy angels has the Lord given power
to describe all his mighty deeds,
even though he has given them power
to stand unharmed in his glorious presence.
18 He sees into the oceans and into the human heart,
and he knows the secrets of both.
The Most High knows everything that can be known
and understands the signs of the ages.
19 He knows all that has ever been and all that ever will be;
he uncovers the deepest of mysteries.
20 He takes notice of our every thought
and hears our every word.
21 The orderly world shows the greatness of his wisdom;
he is the same forever and ever.
Nothing can be added to him, and nothing taken away;
he needs no one to give him advice.
22 All his works are beautiful,
down to the smallest and faintest spark of light.
23 All these things go on forever,
and all of them have their purpose.
24 All things are in pairs, each the opposite of the other,
but nothing the Lord made is incomplete.
25 Everything completes the goodness of something else.
Could anyone ever see enough of this splendor?
