1They seek out the wisdom of all the ancients

and are concerned with prophecies;*

2they preserve the sayings of the famous

and penetrate the subtleties of parables;

3they seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs

and are at home with the obscurities of parables.*

4They serve among the great

and appear before rulers;

they travel in foreign nations

and learn what is good and evil in the human lot.*

5They set their hearts to rise early

to seek the Lord who made them

and to petition the Most High;

they open their mouths in prayer

and ask pardon for their sins.*

6If the great Lord is willing,

they will be filled with the spirit of understanding;

they will pour forth words of wisdom of their own

and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.*

7The Lordj will direct their counsel and knowledge

as they meditate on his mysteries.*

8They will show the discipline of their training

and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.

9Many will praise their understanding;

it will never be blotted out.

Their memory will not disappear,

and their names will live through all generations.*

10Nations will speak of their wisdom,

and the congregation will proclaim their praise.*

11If they live long, they will leave a name greater than a thousand,

and if they go to rest, it is enough for them.

12I have more on my mind to express;

I am full like the full moon.

13Listen to me, my faithful children, and blossom

like a rose growing by a stream of water.*

14Send out fragrance like incense

and put forth blossoms like a lily.

Raise your voicek and sing a hymn of praise;

bless the Lord for all his works.*

15Ascribe majesty to his name

and give thanks to him with praise,

with songs on your lips and with harps;

this is what you shall say in thanksgiving:*

16“All the works of the Lord are very good,

and whatever he commands will be done at the appointed time.*

17No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—

for at the appointed time everything will be made known.

At his word the waters stood in a heap

and the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.*

18At his command, his purpose is fulfilled,

and none can limit his saving power.*

19The works of all are before him,

and nothing can be hidden from his eyes.*

20From age to age he observes all,

and nothing is too marvelous for him.

21No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—

for everything has been created for its own purpose.*

22“His blessing covers the dry land like a river

and drenches it like a flood.

23The nations will inherit his wrath,

as when he turned a watered land into salt.

24To the faithful his ways are straight

but full of pitfalls for the lawless.*

25From the beginning good things were created for the good

but for sinners good things and bad.l^,*

26The basic necessities of human life

are water and fire and iron and salt

and wheat flour and milk and honey,

the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.*

27All these are good for the godly,

but for sinners they turn into evils.*

28“There are winds created for vengeance,

and in their anger they can dislodge mountains;m

on the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength

and calm the anger of their Maker.*

29Fire and hail and famine and pestilence—

all these have been created for vengeance;*

30the fangs of wild animals and scorpions and vipers

and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction.*

31They take delight in doing his bidding,

always ready for his service on earth,

and when their time comes they never disobey his command.”*

32So from the beginning I have been steadfast

and have thought it out and left it in writing:

33All the works of the Lord are good,

and he will supply every need in its time.*

34No one can say, “This is not as good as that,”

for everything proves good in its appointed time.*

35So now sing praise with all your heart and voice,

and bless the name of the Lord.