16
Two kinds of individuals multiply sins,
and a third incurs wrath.
Hot passion that blazes like a fire
will not be quenched until it burns itself out;
one who commits fornication with his near of kin
will never cease until the fire burns him up.
17
To a fornicator all bread is sweet;
he will never weary until he dies.
18
The one who sins against his marriage bed
says to himself, "Who can see me?
Darkness surrounds me, the walls hide me,
and no one sees me. Why should I worry?
The Most High will not remember sins."
19
His fear is confined to human eyes
and he does not realize that the eyes of the Lord
are ten thousand times brighter than the sun;
they look upon every aspect of human behavior
and see into hidden corners.
20
Before the universe was created, it was known to him,
and so it is since its completion.
21
This man will be punished in the streets of the city,
and where he least suspects it, he will be seized.
22
So it is with a woman who leaves her husband
and presents him with an heir by another man.
23
For first of all, she has disobeyed the law of the Most High;
second, she has committed an offense against her husband;
and third, through her fornication she has committed adultery
and brought forth children by another man.
24
She herself will be brought before the assembly,
and her punishment will extend to her children.
25
Her children will not take root,
and her branches will not bear fruit.
26
She will leave behind an accursed memory
and her disgrace will never be blotted out.
27
Those who survive her will recognize
that nothing is better than the fear of the Lord,
and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord. 1
1
Wisdom praises herself,
and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
2
In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
3
"I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,
and covered the earth like a mist.
4
I dwelt in the highest heavens,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5
Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
and traversed the depths of the abyss.
6
Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
and over every people and nation I have held sway. 2
7
Among all these I sought a resting place;
in whose territory should I abide?
8
"Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
and my Creator chose the place for my tent.
He said, "Make your dwelling in Jacob,
and in Israel receive your inheritance.'
9
Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
10
In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and so I was established in Zion.
11
Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,
and in Jerusalem was my domain.
12
I took root in an honored people,
in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.
13
"I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,
and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.
14
I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi, 3
and like rosebushes in Jericho;
like a fair olive tree in the field,
and like a plane tree beside water 4 I grew tall.
15
Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth perfume,
and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,
like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,
and like the odor of incense in the tent.
16
Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,
and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17
Like the vine I bud forth delights,
and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit. 5