1. They will seek out the wisdomof all the ancestors,and they will be occupiedwith prophecies.
2. They will preserve the storiesof famous people,and they will penetratethe subtle turns of parables.
3. They will seek outthe hidden meanings of proverbs,and will live with the puzzles of parables.
4. They will serve among the greatand appear before rulers.They will travel in foreign lands,because they will test what’s goodand what’s evil in people.
5. They will commit themselves to rise early,to seek the Lord who made them,and to pray to the Most High.They will open their mouth in prayerand ask forgiveness for their sins.
6. If the great Lord is willing,they will be filledwith a spirit of understanding;they will pour forth words of wisdom,and they will give thanksto the Lord in prayer.
7. Their reasoning and knowledgewill remain on course,and they will ponder God’s mysteries.
8. They will bring to lightthe learning of their instruction,and they will make the lawsof the Lord’s covenant their boast.
9. Many will praise their understanding,and it will never be forgotten.The remembrance of themwill never disappear,and their name will livefor generations upon generations.
10. The nations will speak of their wisdom,and the congregationwill proclaim their praise.
11. If they live a long time,they will leave behind a namegreater than a thousand names,and if they find rest,it will be enough for them.
12. I’ll speak of other thingsI’ve been thinking,since I was filled like the full moon.
13. Listen to me, faithful children,and blossomlike a rose growing neara running stream.
14. Send forth a fragrant aroma like incense,and bloom with blossoms like a lily.Raise your voice, give praise together,and bless the Lord for all his works.
15. Tell of the greatness of his name,and give thanks when you praise himwith songs on your lips and with harps.And this is what you will saywhen you give thanks:
16. All the works of the Lord are very good.Every command of hiswill be carried out in its proper time.
17. It’s not for us to say,"What’s this?" or"For what purpose is that?"Everything will be examinedat its proper time.At his command water piled up in a heap,and by his spoken wordreservoirs of water stood erect.
18. His command accomplisheshis good pleasure,and no one can diminishthe deliverance he intends.
19. The works of all living beingsare before him;nothing can hide from his eyes.
20. He sees from one end of eternityto the other,and nothing is too wondrous for him.
21. It’s not for us to say,"What’s this?" or"For what purpose is that?"All things were createdfor their own purpose.
22. His blessing covers like a riverand soaks the dry land like a flood.
23. Similarly, his anger will overtakethe nations,as he changed fresh waters into brine.
24. For the godly, his paths are straight,but for the lawless,there are obstacles.
25. From the beginning, good thingshave been made for good people,but bad things for sinners.
26. Basic to all the necessities of human lifeare water, fire, iron, salt,fine flour, milk, honey,wine, oil, and clothing.
27. For the godly,all these things are for good,but for sinners, they will turn into evil.
28. There are winds that have been createdfor vengeance,and they whip with strengthin their wrath.At the moment of consummation,they will pour out their strength,and they will calm the wrathof their maker.
29. Fire, hail, famine, and death—all have been created for vengeance—
30. the teeth of wild beasts, scorpions, vipers, and a swordpunishing the ungodlywith destruction.
31. These things gladly dowhat he commands.They will be ready for his serviceon the earth,and they won’t violate his wordwhen their time comes.
32. Because of this,I’ve been steadfast from the beginning:I’ve thought things outand left them in writing.
33. All the works of the Lord are good,and he will supply every need in its time.
34. It’s not for us to say,"This is worse than that,"since everything will prove its worthat the proper moment.
35. And now, sing hymnswith all your heart and voice,and bless the Lord’s name.