1 Love righteousness, all you who are judges of the earth.

Think of the master[fn] with a good mind.

Seek him in singleness of heart,

2 because he’s found by those who don’t put him to the test,

and is manifested to those who trust him.

3 for crooked thoughts separate from God.

His Power convicts when it’s tested,

and exposes the foolish;

4 because wisdom won’t enter into a soul that devises evil,

≈ nor live in a body that’s enslaved by sin.

5 Because a holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit,

and will depart from thoughts that are without understanding,

and will be ashamed when unrighteousness has come in.

6 Because[fn] wisdom is a spirit who loves man,

and she won’t hold a[fn] blasphemer guiltless for his lips,

because God is witness of his inmost self,

≈ and is a true overseer of his heart,

and a hearer of his tongue.

7 Because the master’s spirit has filled[fn] the world,

and that which holds all things together knows what’s said.

8 Therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will be unseen;

neither will Justice, when it convicts, pass him by.

9 Because in his counsels the ungodly will be searched out,

and the sound of his words will come to the master to bring his lawless activities to conviction;

10 because a jealous ear listens to all things,

and the noise of murmurings isn’t hidden.

11 Beware then of unprofitable murmuring,

and keep your tongue from slander;

because no secret utterance will go on its way void,

and a lying mouth destroys a soul.