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In Praise of Wisdom

1All wisdom is from the Lord,
   and with him it remains for ever.
² The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,
   and the days of eternity—who can count them?
³ The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,
   the abyss, and wisdom^*—who can search them out?
⁴ Wisdom was created before all other things,
   and prudent understanding from eternity.^*
6 The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?
   Her subtleties—who knows them?^*
8 There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,
   seated upon his throne—the Lord.
⁹ It is he who created her;
   he saw her and took her measure;
   he poured her out upon all his works,
¹⁰ upon all the living according to his gift;
   he lavished her upon those who love him.^*

¹⁸ The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,
   making peace and perfect health to flourish.^*
19 She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension,
   and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast.
²⁰ To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom,
   and her branches are long life.^*

²² Unjust anger cannot be justified,
   for anger tips the scale to one’s ruin.
²³ Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment,
   and then cheerfulness comes back to them.
²⁴ They hold back their words until the right moment;
   then the lips of many tell of their good sense.

²⁵ In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings,
   but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
²⁶ If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,
   and the Lord will lavish her upon you.
²⁷ For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline,
   fidelity and humility are his delight.

Micah

1The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

Judgement Pronounced against Samaria

² Hear, you peoples, all of you;
   listen, O earth, and all that is in it;
and let the Lord God be a witness against you,
   the Lord from his holy temple.
³ For lo, the Lord is coming out of his place,
   and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
⁴ Then the mountains will melt under him
   and the valleys will burst open,
like wax near the fire,
   like waters poured down a steep place.
⁵ All this is for the transgression of Jacob
   and for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob?
   Is it not Samaria?
And what is the high place^* of Judah?
   Is it not Jerusalem?
⁶ Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,
   a place for planting vineyards.
I will pour down her stones into the valley,
   and uncover her foundations.
⁷ All her images shall be beaten to pieces,
   all her wages shall be burned with fire,
   and all her idols I will lay waste;
for as the wages of a prostitute she gathered them,
   and as the wages of a prostitute they shall again be used.

The Doom of the Cities of Judah

⁸ For this I will lament and wail;
   I will go barefoot and naked;
I will make lamentation like the jackals,
   and mourning like the ostriches.
⁹ For her wound^* is incurable.
   It has come to Judah;
it has reached to the gate of my people,
   to Jerusalem.