<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;To the one in despair, kindness<n id="1" /> should come from his friend<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">even if<n id="3" /> he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.p>

<p class="poetry">Is it because of your piety<n id="1" /> that he rebukes youp> <p class="poetry">and goes to judgment with you?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Serve<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> in fear!p> <p class="poetry">Repent in terror!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Your raging fury causes people to fear you.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Confirm to your servant your promise,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">which you made to the one who honors you.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">But you even break off<n id="1" /> piety,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and hinder<n id="3" /> meditation<n id="4" /> before God.p>

<p class="poetry">Come children! Listen to me!p> <p class="poetry">I will teach you what it means to fear the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Fear and panic overpower me;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">terror overwhelms<n id="2" /> me.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> is the beginning<n id="2" /> of moral knowledge,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but<n id="4" /> fools<n id="5" /> despise<n id="6" /> wisdom and instruction.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">Because<n id="1" /> they hated moral knowledge,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and did not choose to fear the <sc>Lord,sc><n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">then you will understand<n id="1" /> how to fear the <sc>Lord,sc><n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and you will discover<n id="3" /> knowledge<n id="4" /> about God.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The beginning<n id="1" /> of wisdom is to fear the <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and acknowledging<n id="3" /> the Holy One<n id="4" /> is understanding.p>

<p class="poetry">Fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> prolongs life,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">but the life span<n id="3" /> of the wicked will be shortened.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">In the fear of the <sc>Lordsc> one has<n id="1" /> strong confidence,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and it will be a refuge<n id="3" /> for his children.p>

<p class="poetry">The fear of the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> is like<n id="2" /> a life-giving fountain,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">to turn<n id="4" /> people<n id="5" /> from deadly snares.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">Better<n id="1" /> is little with the fear of the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">than great wealth and turmoil<n id="2" /> with it.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The fear of the <sc>Lordsc> provides wise instruction,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and before honor comes humility.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Through loyal love and truth<n id="1" /> iniquity is appeased;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">through fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="3" /> one avoids<n id="4" /> evil.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> leads<n id="2" /> to life,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and one who does so will live<n id="4" /> satisfied; he will not be afflicted<n id="5" /> by calamity.p>

<p class="poetry">The reward<n id="1" /> for humility<n id="2" /> and fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">is riches and honor and life.p>