Column 11

1 understanding to those who stray in spirit, and to give insight in teaching to those who grumble, and to answer with humility before the haughty in spirit, and with a broken spirit to the men of 2 the rod, who point the finger and speak wickedness and are zealous for wealth. As for me, my judgment belongs to God, and in his hand is the perfection of my way with the uprightness of my heart,⁠a 3 and by his righteous acts he will wipe out my transgression. For from the source of his knowledge he has opened his light, and my eye has looked on his wonders, and the light of my heart is in the mystery of 4 what will be and what is forever. The support of my right hand is on a strong rock; the way of my steps will not be shaken by anything. For the truth of God is 5 the rock of my steps, and his might is the staff of my right hand. And from the source of his righteousness comes my judgment, a light in my heart from his wonderful mysteries. On what is forever 6 my eye has looked: sound wisdom that is hidden from humankind, knowledge and prudent discretion hidden from the sons of Adam, a source of righteousness and a reservoir of 7 might, with a spring of glory hidden from the assembly of flesh. To those whom God has chosen he has given them as an eternal possession, and he has given them an inheritance in the lot of⁠b 8 the holy ones, and with the sons of heaven he has joined their assembly, for a council of the community and an assembly of a holy building, for an eternal planting through every 9 age that comes to be. But I belong to wicked humankind and to the assembly of iniquitous flesh. My iniquities, my transgressions, my sins, … with the perversity of my heart, 10 belong to the assembly of worms and those who walk in darkness. For a human’s way is not his own, and a man does not direct his own step. For judgment belongs to God, and from his hand 11 comes perfection of way. By his knowledge everything comes to be, and all that exists he establishes by his design, and without him nothing is done.⁠c As for me, if 12 I stumble, the kindnesses of God are my salvation forever. And if I fall through the iniquity of flesh, my judgment will stand in the righteousness of God for all time. 13 And if my distress breaks out, he will rescue my soul from the pit and make my steps firm on the way. In his compassion he has brought me near, and by his kindnesses comes 14 my judgment. In his true righteousness he has judged me, and in his great goodness he will atone for all my iniquities, and in his righteousness he will cleanse me from the impurity of 15 humankind and the sin of the sons of Adam, to give thanks to God for his righteousness and to the Most High for his splendor. Blessed are you, my God, who opens to knowledge 16 the heart of your servant. Establish all his works in righteousness, and grant to the son of your handmaid, as you have been pleased to do for the chosen of humankind, to stand 17 before you forever. For without you no way is perfect, and without your will nothing is done. You have taught 18 all knowledge, and everything that has come to be exists by your will. And there is no other apart from you to answer your counsel, or to have insight 19 into all your holy design, or to look into the depth of your mysteries, or to understand all your wonders, with the strength of 20 your might. Who can contain your glory? And what, indeed, is the son of Adam among your wonderful works? 21 And one born of a woman, how can he sit before you? He is kneaded from dust, and his dwelling is the food of worms. He is spat saliva, 22 pinched clay, and his longing is for the dust. What can clay answer, a thing shaped by hand? And what counsel can it understand?