9 Hear, Oh Yisrael, the commandments of life! Give ear to understand wisdom! 10 How is it, Oh Yisrael, that you are in your enemies’ land, that you have become old in a strange country, that you are defiled with the dead, 11 that you are counted with those who are in Haidais? 12 You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom. 13 If you had walked in the way of God, you would have dwelled in peace forever. 14 Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, and where there is understanding, that you may also know where there is length of days and life, where there is the light of the eyes and peace. 15 Who has found out her place? Who has come into her treasuries? 16 Where are the princes of the heathen, and those who ruled the wild animals that are on the earth, 17 those who had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and those who hoarded up silver and gold, in which people trust, and of their getting there is no end? 18 Because those who diligently sought silver, and were so anxious, and whose works are past finding out, 19 they have vanished and gone down to Haidais, and others have come up in their place.

20 Younger men have seen the light and lived upon the earth, but they haven’t known the way of knowledge, 21 nor understood its paths. Their children haven’t embraced it. They are far off from their way. 22 It has not been heard of in Kena’an (Canaan), neither has it been seen in Teyman. 23 The sons also of Hagar who seek understanding, which are in the land, the merchants of Merran and Teyman, and the authors of fables, and the searchers out of understanding—none of these have known the way of wisdom or remembered her paths.

24 Oh Yisrael (Israel), how great is the house of God! How large is the place of his possession! 25 It is great and has no end. It is high and unmeasurable. 26 Giants were born that were famous of old, great of stature, and expert in war. 27 God didn’t choose these, nor did he give the way of knowledge to them, 28 so they perished, because they had no wisdom. They perished through their own foolishness. 29 Who has gone up into heaven, taken her, and brought her down from the clouds? 30 Who has gone over the sea, found her, and will bring her for choice gold? 31 There is no one who knows her way, nor any who comprehend her path. 32 But he that knows all things knows her, he found her out with his understanding. He who prepared the earth for all time has filled it with four-footed animals. 33 It is he who sends forth the light, and it goes. He called it, and it obeyed him with fear. 34 / 34 The stars shone in their watches, and were glad. When he called them, they said, “Here we are.” They shone with gladness to him who made them. 35 This is our god. No other can be compared to him. 36 He has found out all the way of knowledge, and has given it to Ya’akov (Jacob) his servant and to Yisrael (Israel) who is loved by him. 37 Afterward she appeared upon earth, and lived with men.

4 This is the book of God’s commandments and the law that endures forever. All those who hold it fast will live, but those who leave it will die. 2 Turn, Oh Ya’akov, and take hold of it. Walk towards the shining of its light. 3 Don’t give your glory to another, nor the things that are to your advantage to a foreign nation. 4 Oh Yisrael, we are happy; for the things that are pleasing to God are made known to us.