[1] But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, And no torment shall touch them.
[2] In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died; And their departure was accountedto be their hurt,
[3] And their journeying away from usto be their ruin: But they are in peace.
[4] For even if in the sight of men they be punished, Their hope is full of immortality;
[5] And having borne a little chastening, they shall receive great good; Because God made trial of them, and found them worthy of himself.
[6] As gold in the furnace he proved them, And as a whole burnt offering he accepted them.
[7] And in the time of their visitation they shall shine forth, And as sparks among stubble they shall run to and fro.
[8] They shall judge nations, and have dominion over peoples; And the Lord shall reign over them for evermore.
[9] They that trust on him shall understand truth, And the faithful shall abide with him in love; Because grace and mercy are to his chosen.
[10] But the ungodly shall be requited even as they reasoned, They which lightly regarded the righteousman, and revolted from the Lord;
[11] (For he that sets at nothing wisdom and discipline is miserable;) And void is their hope and their toils unprofitable, And useless are their works:
[12] Their wives are foolish, and wicked are their children;
[13] Accursed is their begetting. Because happy is the barren that is undefiled, She who has not conceived in transgression; She shall have fruit whenGod visiteth souls.
[14] Andhappy is the eunuch which has wrought no lawless deed with his hands, Nor imagined wicked things against the Lord; For there shall be given him for his faithfulness a peculiar favor, And a lot in the sanctuary of the Lord more delightsomethan wife or children.
[15] For good labours have fruit of great renown; And the root of understanding can’t fail.
[16] But children of adulterers shall not come to maturity, And the seed of an unlawful bed shall vanish away.
[17] For if they live long, they shall be held in no account, And at the last their old age shall be without honor.
[18] And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, Nor in the day of decisionshall they have consolation.
[19] For the end of an unrighteous generation is always grievous.