ERV(i)
1 Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth, Think ye of the Lord with a good mind, And in singleness of heart seek ye him;
2 Because he is found of them that tempt him not, And is manifested to them that do not distrust him.
3 For crooked thoughts separate from God; And the [supreme] Power, when it is brought to the proof, putteth to confusion the foolish:
4 Because wisdom will not enter into a soul that deviseth evil, Nor dwell in a body that is held in pledge by sin.
5 For a holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit. And will start away from thoughts that are without understanding, And will be put to confusion when unrighteousness hath come in.
6 For wisdom is a spirit that loveth man, And she will not hold a blasphemer guiltless for his lips; Because God beareth witness of his reins, And is a true overseer of his heart, And a hearer of his tongue:
7 Because the spirit of the Lord hath filled the world, And that which holdeth all things together hath knowledge of [every] voice.
8 Therefore no man that uttereth unrighteous things shall be unseen; Neither shall Justice, when it convicteth, pass him by.
9 For in [the midst of] his counsels the ungodly shall be searched out; And the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord To bring to conviction his lawless deeds:
10 Because [there is] an ear of jealousy [that] listeneth to all things, And the noise of murmurings is not hid.
11 Beware then of unprofitable murmuring, And refrain your tongue from backbiting; Because no secret utterance shall go on its way void, And a mouth that belieth destroyeth a soul.
12 Court not death in the error of your life; Neither draw upon yourselves destruction by the works of your hands:
13 Because God made not death; Neither delighteth he when the living perish:
14 For he created all things that they might have being: And the generative powers of the world [are] healthsome, And there is no poison of destruction in them: Nor hath Hades royal dominion upon earth,
15 For righteousness is immortal:
16 But ungodly men by their hands and their words called death unto them: Deeming him a friend they consumed away, And they made a covenant with him, Because they are worthy to be of his portion.