Chapter 39

39. The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies, for he will keep the sayings of the renowned men, and where subtle parables are, he will be there also, for he will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables. He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes, and he will travel through strange countries, for he has tried the good and the evil among men, and he will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins. If the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding, for he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer, and he shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. He shall shew forth that which he has learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord, for many shall commend his understanding, and so long as the world endures, it shall not be blotted out, his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall be remembered from generation to generation. Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise, for if he live long, he shall leave a name behind him, and if he die, it shall be well with him. Hear my words, O ye great men of the people, and give ear, O ye governors of the congregation, for say not, It is through the Lord that I fell, for he will not do the thing that he knows to be an abomination. Say not thou, He has caused me to err: for he has no need of the sinful man, for the Lord hates all abomination, and they that fear him love it not. The Lord himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel, for if you will, you shall keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness. He has set fire and water before thee, stretch forth your hand unto whether you will, before man is life and death, and whether him likes shall be given him. For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholds all things, and his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knows every work of man, for he has commanded none to do wickedly, neither has he given any man license to sin. All the works of the Lord are good, and he will give every needful thing in due season, for a man may not say, This is worse than that, for in time they shall all be well approved, and there is a time when the works of the Lord shall be well approved, and there is a time when the works of the Lord shall be well approved. All the works of the Lord are for good, and for his people, he is merciful, and for them that fear him, he is bountiful, and for them that fear him, he is bountiful. Therefore all the works of the Lord are good, and he will give every needful thing in due season, and a man may not say, This is worse than that, for in time they shall all be well approved. The Lord is long-suffering, and will not utterly destroy, nor utterly destroy the wicked.