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1 Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him in simplicity of heart; |
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2 for he will be found by those who do not put him to the test, revealing himself to those who do not mistrust him. |
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3 Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God, and power, when put to the test, confounds the stupid. |
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4 Wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin; |
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5 for the holy spirit of instruction flees deceitfulness, recoils from unintelligent thoughts, is thwarted by the onset of vice. |
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6 Wisdom is a spirit friendly to humanity, though she will not let a blasphemer's words go unpunished; since God observes the very soul and accurately surveys the heart, listening to every word. |
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7 For the spirit of the Lord fills the world, and that which holds everything together knows every word said. |
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8 No one who speaks what is wrong will go undetected, nor will avenging Justice pass by such a one. |
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9 For the schemes of the godless will be examined, and a report of his words will reach the Lord to convict him of his crimes. |
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10 There is a jealous ear that overhears everything, not even a murmur of complaint escapes it. |
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11 So beware of uttering frivolous complaints, restrain your tongue from finding fault; even what is said in secret has repercussions, and a lying mouth deals death to the soul. |
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12 Do not court death by the errors of your ways, nor invite destruction through the work of your hands. |
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13 For God did not make Death, he takes no pleasure in destroying the living. |
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14 To exist -- for this he created all things; the creatures of the world have health in them, in them is no fatal poison, and Hades has no power over the world: |
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15 for uprightness is immortal. |
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16 But the godless call for Death with deed and word, counting him friend, they wear themselves out for him; with him they make a pact, worthy as they are to belong to him. |
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