21 No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—

for everything has been created for its own purpose.

22 “His blessing covers the dry land like a river,

and drenches it like a flood.

23 But his wrath drives out the nations,

as when he turned a watered land into salt.

24 To the faithful his ways are straight,

but full of pitfalls for the wicked.

25 From the beginning good things were created for the good,

but for sinners good things and bad.c

26 The basic necessities of human life

are water and fire and iron and salt

and wheat flour and milk and honey,

the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.

27 All these are good for the godly,

but for sinners they turn into evils.

28 “There are winds created for vengeance,

and in their anger they can dislodge mountains;d

on the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength

and calm the anger of their Maker.

29 Fire and hail and famine and pestilence,

all these have been created for vengeance;

30 the fangs of wild animals and scorpions and vipers,

and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction.

31 They take delight in doing his bidding,

always ready for his service on earth;

and when their time comes they never disobey his command.”

32 So from the beginning I have been convinced of all this

and have thought it out and left it in writing:

33 All the works of the Lord are good,

and he will supply every need in its time.

34 No one can say, “This is not as good as that,”

for everything proves good in its appointed time.

35 So now sing praise with all your heart and voice,

and bless the name of the Lord.

Human Wretchedness

40 Hard work was created for everyone,

and a heavy yoke is laid on the children of Adam,

from the day they come forth from their mother’s womb

until the day they return toa the mother of all the living.b

2 Perplexities and fear of heart are theirs,

and anxious thought of the day of their death.

3 From the one who sits on a splendid throne

to the one who grovels in dust and ashes,

4 from the one who wears purple and a crown

to the one who is clothed in burlap,

5 there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest,

and fear of death, and fury and strife.

And when one rests upon his bed,

his sleep at night confuses his mind.

6 He gets little or no rest;

he struggles in his sleep as he did by day.c

He is troubled by the visions of his mind

like one who has escaped from the battlefield.

7 At the moment he reaches safety he wakes up,

astonished that his fears were groundless.

8 To all creatures, human and animal,

but to sinners seven times more,

9 come death and bloodshed and strife and sword,

calamities and famine and ruin and plague.

10 All these were created for the wicked,

and on their account the flood came.

11 All that is of earth returns to earth,

and what is from above returns above.d

Injustice Will Not Prosper

12 All bribery and injustice will be blotted out,

but good faith will last forever.

13 The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a river,

and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a storm.

14 As a generous person has cause to rejoice,

so lawbreakers will utterly fail.

15 The children of the ungodly put out few branches;

they are unhealthy roots on sheer rock.

16 The reeds by any water or river bank

are plucked up before any grass;

17 but kindness is like a garden of blessings,

and almsgiving endures forever.

The Joys of Life

18 Wealth and wages make life sweet,e

but better than either is finding a treasure.

19 Children and the building of a city establish one’s name,

but better than either is the one who finds wisdom.

Cattle and orchards make one prosperous;f

but a blameless wife is accounted better than either.

20 Wine and music gladden the heart,

but the love of friendsg is better than either.

21 The flute and the harp make sweet melody,

but a pleasant voice is better than either.

22 The eye desires grace and beauty,

but the green shoots of grain more than either.

23 A friend or companion is always welcome,

but a sensible wifeh is better than either.

24 Kindred and helpers are for a time of trouble,

but almsgiving rescues better than either.

25 Gold and silver make one stand firm,

but good counsel is esteemed more than either.

26 Riches and strength build up confidence,

but the fear of the Lord is better than either.

There is no want in the fear of the Lord,

and with it there is no need to seek for help.

27 The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing,

and covers a person better than any glory.

The Disgrace of Begging

28 My child, do not lead the life of a beggar;

it is better to die than to beg.

29 When one looks to the table of another,

one’s way of life cannot be considered a life.

One loses self-respect with another person’s food,

but one who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.

30 In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet,

but it kindles a fire inside him.

Concerning Death

41 O death, how bitter is the thought of you

to the one at peace among possessions,

who has nothing to worry about and is prosperous in everything,

and still is vigorous enough to enjoy food!

2 O death, how welcome is your sentence

to one who is needy and failing in strength,

worn down by age and anxious about everything;

to one who is contrary, and has lost all patience!

3 Do not fear death’s decree for you;

remember those who went before you and those who will come after.

4 This is the Lord’s decree for all flesh;

why then should you reject the will of the Most High?

Whether life lasts for ten years or a hundred or a thousand,

there are no questions asked in Hades.

The Fate of the Wicked

5 The children of sinners are abominable children,

and they frequent the haunts of the ungodly.

6 The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish,

and on their offspring will be a perpetual disgrace.

7 Children will blame an ungodly father,

for they suffer disgrace because of him.

8 Woe to you, the ungodly,

who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!

9 If you have children, calamity will be theirs;

you will beget them only for groaning.

When you stumble, there is lasting joy;a

and when you die, a curse is your lot.

10 Whatever comes from earth returns to earth;

so the ungodly go from curse to destruction.

11 The human body is a fleeting thing,

but a virtuous name will never be blotted out.b

12 Have regard for your name, since it will outlive you

longer than a thousand hoards of gold.

13 The days of a good life are numbered,

but a good name lasts forever.

14 My children, be true to your training and be at peace;

hidden wisdom and unseen treasure—

of what value is either?

A Series of Contrasts

15 Better are those who hide their folly

than those who hide their wisdom.

16 Therefore show respect for my words;

for it is not good to feel shame in every circumstance,

nor is every kind of abashment to be approved.c

17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality, before your father or mother;

and of a lie, before a prince or a ruler;

18 of a crime, before a judge or magistrate;

and of a breach of the law, before the congregation and the people;

of unjust dealing, before your partner or your friend;

19 and of theft, in the place where you live.

Be ashamed of breaking an oath or agreement,d

and of leaning on your elbow at meals;

of surliness in receiving or giving,

20 and of silence, before those who greet you;

of looking at a prostitute,

21 and of rejecting the appeal of a relative;

of taking away someone’s portion or gift,

and of gazing at another man’s wife;

22 of meddling with his servant-girl—

and do not approach her bed;

of abusive words, before friends—

and do not be insulting after making a gift.