Wisdom of Solomon 2

1For they said among themselves, reasoning wrongly, “Our life is short and sorrowful, and there is no remedy at the end of a man's life, and no one has been known to return from Hades.”

2because we came into being by mere chance, and after this we will be as though we had not existed; because the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark in the beating of our heart,

3when it is extinguished, the body will become ashes, and the spirit will be dispersed like thin air.

4and our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will remember our works; and our life will pass by like the trace of a cloud, and will be scattered like mist, driven off by the sun’s rays and weighed down by its heat.

5For our life is the passing of a shadow, and there is no turning back from our end, because it has been sealed, and no one returns.

6Come then, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and let us make use of creation eagerly, as in youth;

7Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pass us by.

8Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.

9Let none of us be without a share in our revelry; everywhere let us leave tokens of our merriment, because this is our portion, and this our lot.

10Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow, nor show regard for the gray hairs of an old man advanced in years.

11But let our strength be the law of justice, for what is weak is shown to be useless.

12But let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is troublesome to us and opposes our deeds, and reproaches us for sins against the law, and charges us with sins against our training.

13He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord;

14He became a reproof to our thoughts; even being seen is burdensome to us,

15for his life is unlike that of others, and his ways are different.

16We were considered by him to be counterfeit, and he keeps away from our ways as from uncleannesses; he calls the end of the righteous blessed, and boasts that God is his father.

17Let us see whether his words are true, and let us test what will happen at his end.

18For if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him and rescue him from the hand of those who oppose him.

19Let us test him with insolence and torture, so that we may know his gentleness and test his forbearance.

20Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for there will be an examination of him according to his words.

21They reasoned these things, and were led astray; for their own wickedness blinded them,

22And they did not know his mysteries, nor did they hope for the reward of holiness, nor did they consider blameless souls worthy of honor.

23For God created man for incorruptibility, and made him in the image of his own nature.

24But through the devil’s envy death entered into the world, and those who belong to his portion test it.