Wisdom of Solomon 4

1Better is childlessness with virtue, for immortality is in her memory, because she is known both by God and by men.

2When she is present, they imitate her, and they long for her when she has gone; and through the age she marches in triumph, wearing a victor’s wreath, having won the contest of the undefiled prizes.

3But the many offspring of the ungodly will be of no use, and from bastard shoots they will not give a root into depth, nor will they set a firm foundation.

4For even if it puts forth shoots for a time in its branches, standing insecurely it will be shaken by the wind, and by the force of the winds it will be uprooted.

5Unfinished branches will be broken off, and their fruit is useless, unripe for eating and fit for nothing;

6For children born from lawless unions are witnesses of their parents’ wickedness at their examination.

7But the righteous man, if he dies early, will be at rest.

8For old age is honorable not because it is long-lived, nor is it measured by the number of years;

9For gray hair is understanding for men, and an unblemished life is the age of old age.

10Having become pleasing to God, he was loved; and while living among sinners, he was taken away.

11He was taken away, lest evil change his understanding or deceit mislead his soul.

12For the bewitchment of wickedness darkens what is good, and the wandering of desire corrupts an innocent mind.

13having been perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;

14For his soul was pleasing to the Lord; therefore he hastened him out of the midst of wickedness. But the peoples, seeing and not understanding, nor taking such a thing to heart,

15For grace and mercy are upon his chosen ones, and visitation upon his holy ones.

16But the righteous one, though dead, will condemn the living ungodly; and youth brought to completion quickly will condemn the many-year old age of the unrighteous.

17For they will see the end of the wise man, and will not understand what the Lord planned concerning him, or for what purpose he made him secure.

18They will see and will despise, but the Lord will laugh at them.

19And after this they will become a dishonored corpse and a reproach among the dead forever. For he will dash them down headlong and speechless, and shake them from their foundations; they will be laid waste to the uttermost, and they will be in pain, and their memory will perish.

20They will come in fear, reasoning over their sins, and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

21Then the righteous man will stand with great boldness before those who afflicted him.