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39He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,
   and is concerned with prophecies;
² he preserves the sayings of the famous
   and penetrates the subtleties of parables;
³ he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs
   and is at home with the obscurities of parables.
⁴ He serves among the great
   and appears before rulers;
he travels in foreign lands
   and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.
⁵ He sets his heart on rising early
   to seek the Lord who made him,
   and to petition the Most High;
he opens his mouth in prayer
   and asks pardon for his sins.

⁶ If the great Lord is willing,
   he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own
   and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
⁷ The Lord^* will direct his counsel and knowledge,
   as he meditates on his mysteries.
⁸ He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,
   and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
⁹ Many will praise his understanding;
   it will never be blotted out.
His memory will not disappear,
   and his name will live through all generations.