1 Ohow beautiful is the chaste generation with glory! For the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.
1 O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.
2 When it is present, they imitate it, and they desire it when it hath withdrawn it-self, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts.
2 When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned forever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts.
3 But the multitude of the impious, that hath many children, shall not be profitable, and bastard plants shall not take deep root, nor lay sure foundation.
3 But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation.
4 And if in the boughs for a time they shall spring being weakly set, they shall be moved of the wind, and by the vehemency of the winds they shall be rooted out.
4 ¹And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
5 For the unperfect boughs shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and meet for nothing.
5 For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing.
6 For the children that be born of wicked sleeps, are witnesses of wickedness against the parents in their examination.
6 For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
7 But the just if he be prevented with death, shall be in a place of refreshing.
7 But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest.
8 For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor accounted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man are grey hairs:
8 For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs.
9 and an immaculate life is old age.
9 And a spotless life is old age.
10 Pleasing God he is made beloved, and living among sinners he was translated.
10 ²He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was translated.
11 He was taken away lest malice should change his understanding, or lest any guile might deceive his soul.
11 He was taken away, lest wickedness should altar his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
12 For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the inconstancy of concupiscence perverteth the understanding that is without malice.
12 For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind.
13 Being consummate in short space he fulfilled much time:
13 Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time.
14 for his soul pleased God: for this cause he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the peoples that are seeing, and not understanding, nor putting such things in their hearts:
14 For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not, nor lay up such things in their hearts:
15 that the grace of God, and mercy is toward his saints, and respect toward his elect.
15 That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect to his chosen.
16 But the just dead condemneth the impious alive, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.
16 But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.
17 For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God hath thought of him, and why our Lord hath fenced him.
17 For they shall see the end of the wise man, and shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety.
18 For they shall see and shall contemn him: but our Lord shall laugh them to scorn,
18 They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall laugh them to scorn.
19 and they shall fall after this without honour, and in contumely among the dead for ever: because he shall break them puffed up without voice, and shall remove them from the foundations, and they shall be made desolate unto the highest degree: and shall be mourning, and the memory of them shall perish.
19 And they shall fall after this without honor, and be a reproach among the dead forever: for he shall burst them puffed up and speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall perish.
20 They shall come fearful in cogitation of their sins, and their iniquities on the contrary shall convince them.
20 They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them.