¹ An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, And defies all sound judgment.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, And store up my commandments within you;

² So as to turn your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

³ Yes, if you call out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures:

⁵ Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, And find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

³ It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.

¹⁹ These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

¹⁵ Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷ Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

²¹ My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious:

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; Therefore don't keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; He will not share these with a stranger.

¹⁷ Therefore, "'Come out from among them, And be separate,' says the Lord, 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God,

¹¹ He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

³⁵ Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

¹¹ He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

³ and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Hosts, and to the prophets, saying, "Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?"

¹⁷ I didn't sit in the assembly of those who make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled me with indignation.

¹⁷ Like one who grabs a dog's ears Is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, Therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

¹⁶ For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn't it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?"

⁸ Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you; to your name, even to your memorial [name], is the desire of our soul.

⁹ With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you earnestly: for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.