¹ Of the following things do not be ashamed and do not show partiality so as to sin:

² of the law of the Most High and his covenant and of rendering judgement to acquit the ungodly;

³ of keeping accounts with a partner or with travel ling companions and of dividing the inheritance of friends;

⁴ of accuracy with scales and weights and of acquiring much or little;

⁵ of profit from dealing with merchants and of much discipline of children and of whipping a wicked servant severely.

⁶ Where there is an evil wife, a seal is a good thing; and where there are many hands, lock things up.

⁷ Whatever dealings you have, let it be by number and weight, and make a record of all that you give out or take in.

⁸ Do not be ashamed to instruct the stupid or fool ish or the aged man who is guilty of sexual immorality. Then you will be truly instructed and will be approved before all the living.

Daughters and Fathers

⁹ A daughter keeps her father secretly wakeful, and worry over her robs him of sleep; when she is young, lest she do not marry, or if married, lest she be hated;

¹⁰ while a virgin, lest she be defiled or become pregnant in her father’s house; or having a husband, lest she prove unfaithful, or, though married, lest she be barren.

¹¹ Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, lest she make you a laughing-stock to your enemies, a byword in the city and notorious among the people, and put you to shame before the great multitude.

¹² Do not look upon anyone for comeliness and do not sit in the midst of women;

¹³ for from garments comes the moth, and from a woman comes woman’s wickedness.

¹⁴ Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good; and a shameful woman brings disgrace.

Works of God in Nature

¹⁵ I will now call to mind the works of the Lord and will declare what I have seen. By the words of the Lord his works are done. And by his good pleasure justice is done.

¹⁶ The sun looks down on everything with its light, and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.

¹⁷ The Lord has not enabled even his holy ones to recount all his marvellous works, which the Lord the Almighty has established so that the universe may stand firm in his glory.

¹⁸ He searches out the Abyss and the heart and considers their wonders. For the Most High knows all that may be known, and he has seen the signs of the age.

¹⁹ He declares what has been and what is to be, and he reveals the tracks of hidden things.

²⁰ No thought escapes him, and not one thing is hidden from him.

²¹ He has ordained the splendours of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting and to everlasting. Nothing can be added or taken away, and he needs no one to be his counsellor.

²² How greatly to be desired are all his works, and how sparkling they are to see!

²³ All these things live and remain for ever for every need, and all are obedient.

²⁴ All things are twofold, one opposite the other, and he has made nothing incomplete.

²⁵ One confirms the good things of the other, and who can have enough of seeing his glory?