Wisdom of Solomon 3

1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.

2In the eyes of fools they seemed to have died, and their departure was regarded as calamity,

3and their departure from us was thought to be ruin, but they are in peace.

4For even if they are punished in the sight of men, their hope is full of immortality.

5And after being disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself.

6Like gold in a furnace he tested them, and like a whole burnt offering he accepted them.

7and at the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and they will run about like sparks through stubble;

8They will judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever.

9Those who have trusted in him will understand truth, and the faithful will remain with him in love, because grace and mercy are for his chosen ones.

10But the ungodly will have punishment according to what they reasoned, having neglected the righteous man and having departed from the Lord.

11For miserable is the one who despises wisdom and instruction, and their hope is empty, their labors are unprofitable, and their works are useless.

12Their women are foolish, and their children are evil; their offspring is accursed.

13For blessed is the undefiled barren woman, who has not known a bed in transgression; she will have fruit at the visitation of souls.

14And the eunuch who has not worked lawlessness with his hand, nor conceived evil things against the Lord, will be given the chosen grace of faith and a more delightful inheritance in the temple of the Lord.

15For the fruit of good labors is glorious, and the root of understanding does not fail.

16But the children of adulterers will be imperfect, and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish.

17For even if they become long-lived, they will be counted as nothing, and in the end their old age will be dishonored.

18Even if they die quickly, they have no hope, nor comfort on the day of judgment.

19For the ends of an unrighteous generation are grievous.