1Wisdomy protected the first-formed father of the world,

when he alone had been created;

she delivered him from his transgression*

2and gave him strength to rule all things.*

3But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger,

he perished because in rage he killed his brother.*

4When the earth was flooded because of him, wisdom again saved it,

steering the righteous man by a paltry piece of wood.*

5Wisdomz also, when the nations in wicked agreement had been put to confusion,

recognized the righteous man and preserved him blameless before God

and kept him strong in the face of his compassion for his child.*

6Wisdoma rescued a righteous man when the ungodly were perishing;

he escaped the fire that descended on the Five Cities.b^,*

7Evidence of their wickedness still remains:

a continually smoking wasteland,

plants bearing fruit that does not ripen,

and a pillar of salt standing as a monument to an unbelieving soul.*

8For because they passed wisdom by,

they not only were hindered from recognizing the good

but also left for humankind a reminder of their folly,

so that their failures could never go unnoticed.

9Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her.

10When a righteous man fled from his brother’s wrath,

she guided him on straight paths;

she showed him the kingdom of God

and gave him knowledge of holy things;

she prospered him in his labors

and increased the fruit of his toil.*

11When his oppressors were covetous,

she stood by him and made him rich.*

12She protected him from his enemies

and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him;

in his arduous contest she declared him victorious,

so that he might learn that godliness is more powerful than anything else.*

13When a righteous man was sold, wisdomc did not desert him

but delivered him from sin.

14She descended with him into the dungeon,

and when he was in prison she did not leave him,

until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom

and authority over his masters.

Those who accused him she showed to be false,

and she gave him everlasting honor.*

15Holy people and blameless offspring

wisdomd delivered from a nation of oppressors.*

16She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord

and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs.*

17She gave to holy people the reward of their labors;

she guided them along a marvelous way

and became a shelter to them by day

and a starry flame through the night.*

18She brought them over the Red Sea

and led them through deep waters,*

19but she drowned their enemies

and cast them up from the depth of the sea.*

20Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly;

they sang hymns, O Lord, to your holy name

and praised with one accord your defending hand,*

21for wisdom opened the mouths of those who were mute

and made the tongues of infants speak clearly.*