Wisdom of Solomon 4

1 Childlessness with virtue is better, because the memory of virtue is immortal. It is known both by God and by human beings. 2 When virtue is present, people imitate it; when it is gone, they long for it. Through eternity it wears a crown and marches in triumph, having won the contest for undefiled prizes. 3 But the many offspring of the ungodly will be of no use. Shoots from illegitimate unions will not send their roots deep or establish a firm foundation. 4 Even if they blossom in branches for a time, their insecure footing will be shaken by the wind, and violent winds will uproot them. 5 Their immature branches will be broken off, and their fruit will be useless, too unripe to eat and fit for nothing. 6 Children born from unlawful unions are witnesses to their parents’ evil when their parents are examined.

7 But even if a righteous person dies early, he will be at rest. 8 Honored old age does not come from living a long time or from the number of years. 9 Discernment is gray hair for human beings, and an unstained life is ripe old age. 10 He pleased God and was loved, and while living among sinners he was taken away. 11 He was snatched away so that evil would not change his understanding or deceit beguile his soul. † 12 The fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and wandering desire corrupts an innocent mind.

13 Perfected in a short time, he completed long years. 14 His soul was pleasing to the Lord, so the Lord hurried him away from the midst of evil. The peoples saw this but did not understand it or take such a thing to heart. 15 Favor and mercy are among God’s chosen, and there is a time of reckoning among his holy ones.

16 The righteous person who has died will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth quickly perfected will condemn the unrighteous person’s long old age. 17 They will see the wise person’s end but will not understand what God intended for him or why the Lord kept him safe. 18 They will see and despise him, but the Lord will laugh at them. 19 After this they will become a dishonored corpse and an object of contempt among the dead forever. He will hurl them to the ground, speechless and facedown, and shake them from their foundations. They will be left utterly desolate and suffer anguish, and the memory of them will perish. 20 When their sins are counted up, they will come trembling, and their own lawless deeds will convict them to their faces.