1 Rejoice not in impious children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted upon them, if the fear of God be not in them.
1 Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.
2 Credit not their life, and respect not their labours.
2 Trust not to their life, and respect not their labors.
3 For better is one fearing God, than a thousand impious children.
3 For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.
4 And it is more profitable to die without children, rather than to leave impious children.
4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.
5 By one wise a country shall be inhabited, and the tribe of the impious shall be made desolate.
5 By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.
6 Many such things hath mine eye seen, and mine ear hath heard things of more force than these.
6 Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.
7 In the synagogue of sinners a fire shall flame, and in an incredulous nation wrath shall wax hot.
7 ¹In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out.
8 The old giants did not obtain for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:
8 ²The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:
9 and he spared not the peregrination of Lot, and he detested them for the pride of their word.
9 And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.
10 He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation, and extolling themselves in their sins.
10 He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.
11 And as the six hundred thousand foot men, which were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiff necked, it is marvel if he had been unpunished.
11 ³So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiff necked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:
12 For there is mercy and wrath with him. Mighty exoration, & pouring out wrath:
12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:
13 according to his mercy, so his chastisement judgeth a man according to his works.
13 According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.
14 The sinner shall not escape in robbery, and the sufferance of him that doth mercy shall not slack.
14 The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that showeth mercy shall not be put off.
15 All mercy shall make a place to every man according to the merit of his works, & according to the understanding of his peregrination.
15 ⁴All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.
16 Say not: I shall be hid from God, and from on high who shall remember me?
16 Say not: I shall be hidden from God, and who shall remember me from on high?
17 In a great people I shall not be known: for what is my soul among so innumerable creatures?
17 In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?
18 Behold heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the depth, and all the earth, & the things that are in them, in his sight shall be moved,
18 Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,
19 the mountains together, and the little hills, & the foundations of the earth: & when God shall behold them, they shall be shaken with trembling.
19 The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.
20 And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood of him:
20 And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him.
21 and his ways who doth understand, and the storm, which neither the eye of man shall see?
21 And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man shall see?
22 For many of his works are in secrets: but the works of his justice who shall declare? Or who shall sustain? For the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in consummation.
22 For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice who shall declare? Or who shall endure? For the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.
23 He that is less of heart, thinketh vain things: and the unwise, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
23 He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
24 Hear me my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart,
24 Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.
25 and I will speak discipline in equity, and will search to declare wisdom: and to my words attend in thy heart, and I speak in equity of spirit the virtues, that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and in truth I shew forth his knowledge.
25 And I will show forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I show forth in truth his knowledge.
26 In the judgement of God are his works from the beginning, and from the institution of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their nations.
26 The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.
27 He adorned their works for ever, neither have they hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.
27 He beautified their works forever, they have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.
28 Every one shall not vex his neighbour for ever.
28 Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbor at any time.
29 Be not incredulous to his word.
29 Be not thou incredulous to his word.
30 After this God looked upon the earth, & filled it with his good things.
30 After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.
31 And the soul of every living thing shall shew before the face thereof, and into it again is their return.
31 The soul of every living thing hath shown forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.