Wisdom of Solomon (Wis. 1)

[1] Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth,
think of the Lord with uprightness,
and seek him with sincerity of heart;

[2] because he is found by those who do not put him to the test,
and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.
[3] For perverse thoughts separate men from God,
and when his power is tested, it convicts the foolish;

[4] because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul,
nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin.

[5] For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit,
and will rise and depart from foolish thoughts,
and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.

[6] For wisdom is a kindly spirit and
will not free a blasphemer from the guilt of his words;
because God is witness of his inmost feelings,
and a true observer of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.

[7] Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world,
and that which holds all things together knows what is said;

[8] therefore no one who utters unrighteous things
will escape notice,
and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by.

[9] For inquiry will be made into the counsels of an ungodly man,
and a report of his words will come to the Lord,
to convict him of his lawless deeds;

[10] because a jealous ear hears all things,
and the sound of murmurings does not go unheard.

[11] Beware then of useless murmuring,
and keep your tongue from slander;
because no secret word is without result,
and a lying mouth destroys the soul.

[12] Do not invite death by the error of your life,
nor bring on destruction by the works of your hands;
[13] because God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.

[14] For he created all things that they might exist,
and the generative forces of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them;
and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.
[15] For righteousness is immortal.

[16] But ungodly men by their words and deeds summoned death;
considering him a friend, they pined away,
and they made a covenant with him,
because they are fit to belong to his party.