⁶ A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent `is' easy.

⁵ and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;

¹¹ And he answering said to them that -- `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, and to these it hath not been given,

¹² for whoever hath, it shall be given to him, and he shall have overabundance, and whoever hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.

²⁵ At that time Jesus answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.

²⁶ Yes, Father, because so it was good pleasure before Thee.

²⁷ `All things were delivered to me by my Father, and none doth know the Son, except the Father, nor doth any know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal `Him'.

²⁴ The face of the intelligent `is' to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.

⁹ All of them `are' plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.

³ this first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,

⁴ and saying, `Where is the promise of his presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation;'

⁵ for this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together by the word of God,

² and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth `him' to know;

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself; if any one doth seem to be wise among you in this age -- let him become a fool, that he may become wise,

¹⁹ for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it hath been written, `Who is taking the wise in their craftiness;'

³¹ and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, at a law of righteousness did not arrive;

³² wherefore? because -- not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling,

²¹ because, having known God they did not glorify `Him' as God, nor gave thanks, but were made vain in their reasonings, and their unintelligent heart was darkened,

²² professing to be wise, they were made fools,

²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of fowls, and of quadrupeds, and of reptiles.

²⁴ Wherefore also God did give them up, in the desires of their hearts, to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies among themselves;

²⁵ who did change the truth of God into a falsehood, and did honour and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed to the ages. Amen.

²⁶ Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature;

²⁷ and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, did burn in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the recompense of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving.

²⁸ And, according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly;

²² `The lamp of the body is the eye, if, therefore, thine eye may be perfect, all thy body shall be enlightened,

²³ but if thine eye may be evil, all thy body shall be dark; if, therefore, the light that `is' in thee is darkness -- the darkness, how great!

⁹ Ashamed have been the wise, They have been affrighted, and are captured, Lo, against a word of Jehovah they kicked, And the wisdom of what -- have they?

²⁰ To the law and to the testimony! If not, let them say after this manner, `That there is no dawn to it.'

¹² Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

² A fool delighteth not in understanding, But -- in uncovering his heart.

⁹⁸ Than mine enemies Thy command maketh me wiser, For it `is' before me to the age.

⁹⁹ Above all my teachers I have acted wisely. For Thy testimonies `are' my meditation.

¹⁰⁰ Above elders I understand more, For Thy precepts I have kept.

¹⁸ Uncover mine eyes, and I behold wonders out of Thy law.