The greatness of God
1He who lives forever created all without exception. 2The Lord alone will be found righteous.
3* 4He has made no one powerful enough to proclaim his works; who then, will reveal his marvels?
5Who can calculate the power of his majesty and relate his great goodness?
6Nothing can be added to him or taken away; no one can fathom the wonders of the Lord.
7When man thinks he has finished, then he is only beginning and when he stops he is puzzled by it all.
8What is man? What is his purpose? What is the good in him and what the bad?
9Take the length of his life: a hundred years is long. 10Like a drop of water from the sea, a grain of sand, such are his few years compared with eternity.
11For this reason, the Lord has patience with them and pours out his mercy on them.
12He sees and realizes how miserable their end is and so he heaps his forgiveness upon them.
13Man’s mercy is for his neighbor but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd. 14He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will.
15My son, do not mix your favors with unkind remarks or your gifts with bitter words.
16Does not dew temper the heat? So, too, a kind word is much better than a gift.
17The gift is not as valuable as the words which accompany it, but a generous man brings both.
18The fool intends to please but insults, a grudging man’s gift makes the eyes smart.
19Find out the facts before you speak; look after yourself before you become ill.
20Examine yourself before judgment comes and, on the day of God’s visitation, you will be forgiven.
21Humble yourself before you become ill and show repentance for your sins.
22Let nothing prevent you from fulfilling your vow on time; do not wait until death to put things in order.
23Prepare yourself before praying and do not be one of those who tempt the Lord.
24Keep in mind the justice of the last days; God will turn his face from you on the day of vengeance.
25When you experience abundance, remember the days of famine; when you enjoy riches, think of poverty and misery.
26Time slips by between morning and evening, all things pass quickly before the Lord.
27The prudent man is cautious in every thing; when sin abounds he will keep away from wrongdoing.
28Every sensible man recognizes wisdom and respects those who obtain her.
29Those who speak sensibly are wise, and marvelous sayings flow from them.
30Do not let your passions rule you and restrain your desires.
31If you satisfy your lusts you will make yourself the laughingstock of your enemies.
32Do not take pleasure in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense.
33Do not impoverish yourself by feasting on credit when you have nothing in your pocket.
