2:23The children of Agar also, that search after the wisdom that is of the earth, the merchants of Merrha, and of Theman, and the tellers of fables, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered her paths.

24O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the place of his possession!

25It is great, and has no end: it is high and immense.

26There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the start, of great stature, expert in war.

27The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of knowledge: therefore did they perish.

28And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their folly.

29Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?

30Who has passed over the sea, and found her, and brought her preferably to chosen gold?

31There is none that is able to know her ways, nor that can search out her paths$1

32But he that knows all things, knows her, and has found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore, and satisfied it with cattle and fourfooted beasts:

33He that sends forth light, and it goes: and has called it, and it obeyeth him with trembling.

34And the stars have given light in their watches, and rejoiced:

35They were called, and they said: Here we are: and with cheerfuIness they have shined forth to him that made them.

36This is our God, and there shall no other be accounted of in comparison of him.

37He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.

38Afterwards he was seen upon earth, and conversed with men.

3:1This is the book of the commands of God, and the law, that is forever: all those who keep it, shall come to life: but those who have left it, to death.

2Return, O Jacob, and take hold of it, walk in the way by its brightness, in the presence of the light thereof.

3Give not your honour to another, nor your dignity to a strange nation.

4We are happy, O Israel: because the things that are pleasing to God, are made known to us.

5Be of good comfort, O people of God, the memorial of Israel:

6You have been sold to the Gentiles, not for your destruction: but because you provoked God to wrath, you are rescued to your adversaries.

7For you have provoked him who made you, the eternal God, offering sacrifice to devils, and not to God.

8For you have forgotten God, who brought you up, and you have grieved Jerusalem that nursed you.

9For she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, and she said: Give ear, all you that dwell near Sion, for God has brought upon me great mourning:

34:2I will bless the Lord always, his praise shall be always in my mouth.

3In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the gentle hear and rejoice.

16The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous: and his ears to their prayers.

17But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

18The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them: and rescued them out of all their troubles.

19The Lord is nigh to them that are of a sorry heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.

17:7But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to food:

8And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird yourself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards you shall eat and drink?

9Does he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him?

10I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.