5. Forget the sinful things that our ancestors did in the past; at a time like this, think only of your power and reputation,
6. for you are the Lord our God, and we will praise you.
7. You have made us fear you, so that we might pray to you. Here in exile we will praise you because we have turned away from the sins of our ancestors.
8. You have scattered us among the nations, and you have made them despise and curse us. You are punishing us for the sins of our ancestors when they rebelled against you, the Lord our God.”
9. Listen, Israel, to the commands that promise life; pay attention, and you will become wise.
10. Why is it, Israel, that you find yourself in an enemy land? Why have you grown old in a foreign country? You are ritually unclean, like the dead;
11. you are already counted among the dead. But why?
12. It is because you have left the source of Wisdom!
13. If you had walked in God's ways, you would have lived in peace for ever.
14. Learn where understanding, strength, and insight are to be found. Then you will know where to find a long and full life, light to guide you, and peace.
15. No one has ever found where Wisdom lives or has entered her treasure house,
16-17. and those who have tried have vanished: the rulers of the nations, those who hunted wild animals and birds for sport, those who accumulated vast fortunes of silver and gold, which everyone trusts and will do anything to get,
18. and those who worried and schemed to make money, but who left no trace of their work behind.
19. They have all disappeared and gone down to the world of the dead. Others have come along to take their place.