Wisdom 4

¹It is better to be childless with virtue, for immortality is in the memory of virtue, because it is recognized both before God and before men. ²When it is present, people imitate it. They long after it when it has departed. Throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph, victorious in the competition for the prizes that are undefiled. ³But the multiplying brood of the ungodly will be of no profit, and their illegitimate offshoots won’t take deep root, nor will they establish a sure hold. ⁴For even if they grow branches and flourish for a season, standing unsure, they will be shaken by the wind. They will be uprooted by the violence of winds. ⁵Their branches will be broken off before they come to maturity. Their fruit will be useless, never ripe to eat, and fit for nothing. ⁶For unlawfully conceived children are witnesses of wickedness against parents when they are investigated. ⁷But a righteous man, even if he dies before his time, will be at rest. ⁸For honorable old age is not that which stands in length of time, nor is its measure given by number of years, ⁹but understanding is gray hair to men, and an unspotted life is ripe old age. ¹⁰Being found well-pleasing to God, someone was loved. While living among sinners he was transported. ¹¹He was caught away, lest evil should change his understanding, or guile deceive his soul. ¹²For the fascination of wickedness obscures the things which are good, and the whirl of desire perverts an innocent mind. ¹³Being made perfect quickly, he filled a long time; ¹⁴for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. Therefore he hurried out of the midst of wickedness. ¹⁵But the peoples saw and didn’t understand, not considering this, that grace and mercy are with his chosen, and that he visits his holy ones; ¹⁶but a righteous man who is dead will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth who is quickly perfected will condemn the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age. ¹⁷For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, and won’t understand what the Lord planned for him, and why he safely kept him. ¹⁸They will see, and they will despise; but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this, they will become a dishonored carcass and a reproach among the dead forever; ¹⁹because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and will shake them from the foundations. They will lie utterly waste. They will be in anguish and their memory will perish. ²⁰They will come with coward fear when their sins are counted. Their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.