1 understanding of those with a stray spirit in order to instruct in the teaching those who complain to reply with meekness to the haughty of spirit, and with a repentant spirit to the men of the stick,
2 those who point the finger and speak evil, and are keen on riches. As for me, in God is my judgment; in his hand is the perfection of my path with the uprightness of my heart;
3 and with his just acts he cancels my sin. For from the source of his knowledge he has disclosed his light, and my eyes have observed his wonders, and the light of my heart the mystery of the future
4 and of the present and of what it is for always. There is support for my right hand, the path of my steps goes over firm rock, it does not waver before anything. For the truth of God is the rock of my steps,
5 and his might the support of my right hand. From the spring of his justice is my judgment and from the wonderful mystery is the light in my heart. My eyes have observed what always is,
6 wisdom that has been hidden from mankind, knowledge and understanding (hidden) from the sons of man, fount of justice and well of strength
7 and spring of glory (hidden) from the assembly of flesh. To those whom God has selected he has given them as everlasting possession; until they inherit them in the lot of the holy ones.
8 Fie unites their assembly to the sons of the heavens in order (to form) the counsel of the Community and a foundation of the building of holiness to be an everlasting plantation throughout all future ages.
9 However, I belong to evil humankind to the assembly of wicked flesh; my failings, my transgressions, my sins, {...} with the depravities of my heart,
10 belong to the assembly of worms and of those who walk in darkness. For to man (does not belong) his path, nor to a human being the steadying of his step; since judgment belongs to God,
11 and from his hand is the perfection of the path. By his knowledge everything shall come into being, and all that does exist he establishes with his calculations and nothing is done outside of him. As for me, if I stumble,
12 the mercies of God shall be my salvation always; and if I fall in the sin of the flesh, in the justice of God, which endures eternally, shall my judgment be;
13 if my grief commences, he will free my soul from the pit and make my steps steady on the path; he will draw me near in his mercies, and by kindnesses set in motion my judgment;
14 he will judge me in the justice of his truth, and in his plentiful goodness always atone for all my sins; in his justice he will cleanse me from the uncleanness of the human being
15 and from the sin of the sons of man, so that I can extol God for his justice and The Highest for his majesty. Blessed be you, my God, who opens the heart of your servant to knowledge!
16 Establish all his deeds in justice, and raise up the son of your handmaid to be everlastingly in your presence, as you have cared for the selected ones of humankind.
17 For beyond you there is no perfect path and without your will, nothing comes to be. You have taught all knowledge
18 and all that exists is so by your will. Beyond you there is no-one to oppose your counsel, to understand one of your holy thoughts,
19 to gaze into the abyss of your mysteries, to fathom all your marvels or the strength of your might.
20 Who can tolerate your glory? What, indeed, is man, ;among all your marvellous deeds?
21 As what shall one born of woman be considered in your presence? Shaped from dust has he been, maggots’ food shall be his dwelling; he is spat saliva,
22 moulded clay, and for dust his longing. What will the clay reply and the one shaped by hand? And what advice will he be able to understand? Blank
