1 Clement 39

1Foolish and senseless and stupid and untaught men mock us and sneer at us, wanting to exalt themselves in their own thoughts.

2For what can a mortal do? Or what strength has one born of earth?

3It is written: “There was no form before my eyes, but I heard only a breath and a voice.”

4What then? Shall a mortal be clean before the Lord? Or shall a man be blameless because of his works, if he does not trust his children, and has conceived something crooked against his angels?

5Even the heavens are not clean before him; how much less those who dwell in houses of clay, from the same clay of which we ourselves also are made. He struck them like a moth, and from morning until evening they are no more; because they are unable to help themselves, they perished.

6He breathed on them, and they died because they lacked wisdom.

7But call out, if anyone will answer you, or if you will see any of the holy angels; for anger kills the foolish man, and jealousy puts the one gone astray to death.

8But I have seen fools taking root, yet immediately their dwelling was consumed.

9May their sons be far from safety; may they be crushed at the gates by the lowly, and there will be no one to rescue them. For what you prepared for them, the righteous will eat, but they themselves will not be delivered from evils.