1 Then shall the just stand in great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours.
1 Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labors.
2 They seeing shall be troubled with horrible fear, and shall marvel at the suddenness of unexpected salvation,
2 These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation,
3 saying within themselves, repenting, and sighing for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and in a parable of reproach.
3 Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a parable of reproach.
4 We senseless esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour.
4 ¹We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honor.
5 Behold how they are counted among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.
5 Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.
6 We therefore have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined to us, and the sun of understanding rose not to us.
6 Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us.
7 We are wearied in the way of iniquity and perdition, and have walked hard ways, but the way of our Lord we have not known.
7 We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known.
8 What hath pride profited us? Or what commodity hath the vaunting of riches brought to us?
8 What hath pride profited us? Or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us?
9 All those things are passed away as a shadow, and as a messenger running before,
9 ²All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on,
10 and as a ship, that passeth through the surging waters: whereof, when it is past, the trace cannot be found nor the path of that ship's keel in the waves:
10 ³And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters:
11 or as a bird, that flyeth through in the air, of which there is no token can be found of her passage, but only a sound of the wings beating the light wind: and by vehemence of going cutting the air, moving the wings she is flown through, and afterward there is no sign found of her way:
11 Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings, and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way:
12 or as when an arrow is shot forth to a set mark, the divided air is forthwith closed in it-self again, so that the passage thereof is not known:
12 Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known:
13 so we also being born forthwith ceased to be: and of virtue certes have been able to shew no sign: but in our naughtiness we are consumed.
13 So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to show no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness.
14 Such things said they in hell, which sinned:
14 Such things as these the sinners said in hell:
15 because the hope of the impious is as dust, which is taken away with the wind: and as a thin froth, which is dispersed by the storm: and as smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the memory of a guest of one day that passeth.
15 ⁴For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by.
16 But the just shall live for ever, and their reward is with our Lord, and cogitation of them with the Highest.
16 But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High.
17 Therefore shall they receive a Kingdom of honour, & a crown of beauty at the hand of our Lord: because with his right hand he will cover them, and within his holy arm he will defend them.
17 Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover them, and with his holy arm he will defend them.
18 And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature to the revenge of the enemies.
18 ⁵And his zeal will take armor, and he will arm the creature for the revenge of his enemies.
19 He will put on justice for a breast-plate, & will take sincere judgement for an helmet:
19 He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true judgment instead of a helmet:
20 he will take equity for an invincible shield:
20 He will take equity for an invincible shield:
21 and he will sharpen fierce wrath for a spear, & the round world shall fight with him against the senseless.
21 And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole world shall fight with him against the unwise.
22 The shots of lightnings shall go directly, & as it were from a bow of the clouds well bent they shall be cast forth, and shall light on a certain place.
22 Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the mark.
23 And from rocked wrath shall thick hail-stones be cast, the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers shall run together roughly.
23 And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers shall run together in a terrible manner.
24 Aspirit of power shall stand against them, and as a hurlwind shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the land to a desert, and naughtiness shall overthrow the seats of the mighty.
24 A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.