Open English Translation BAR Chapter 3

9 Hear, Oh Yisrael, the commandments of life! Give ear to understand wisdom! 10 How is it, Oh Yisrael, that you’re in your enemies’ land, that you’ve become old in a strange country, that you’re defiled with the dead, 11 that you’re counted with those who are in Haidais? 12 You’ve forsaken the fountain of wisdom. 13 If you’d walked in the way of God, you’d have lived in peace forever. 14 Learn where there’s wisdom, where there’s strength, and where there’s understanding, that you may also know where there’s length of days and life, where there’s the light of the eyes and peace. 15 Who’s found out her place? Who’s 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’s no end? 18 Because those who diligently strived to gain silver, and were so anxious, and whose works are past finding out, 19 they’ve vanished and gone down to Haidais, and others have come up in their place.

20 Younger men have seen the light and lived on the earth, but they haven’t known the way of knowledge, 21 nor understood its paths. Their children haven’t embraced it. They’re far off from their way. 22 It hasn’t 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 God’s house! How large is the place of his possession! 25 It’s great and has no end. It’s 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’s gone up into heaven, taken her, and brought her down from the clouds? 30 Who’s gone over the sea, found her, and will bring her for choice gold? 31 There’s 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’s 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’s found out all the way of knowledge, and has given it to Ya’akov (Jacob) his servant and to Yisrael (Israel) who’s loved by him. 37 Afterward she appeared on earth, and lived with men.