| 1 O death, how bitter it is to remember you for someone peaceful y living with his possessions, forsomeone with no worries and everything going wel and who can still enjoy his food! |
| 2 O death, your sentence is welcome to one in want, whose strength is failing, to one worn out with ageand a thousand worries, resentful and impatient! |
| 3 Do not dread death's sentence; remember those who came before you and those who wil come after. |
| 4 This is the sentence passed on al living creatures by the Lord, so why object to what seems good tothe Most High? Whether your life lasts ten or a hundred or a thousand years, its length wil not be held againstyou in Sheol. |
| 5 Hateful brats, such are the children of sinners, who foregather in the haunts of the godless. |
| 6 The inheritance of sinners' children is doomed to perish, their posterity wil endure lasting reproach. |
| 7 A godless father wil be blamed by his children for the reproach he has brought on them. |
| 8 A bad outlook for you, godless people, who have forsaken the Law of God Most High. |
| 9 When you were born, you were born to be accursed, and when you die, that curse wil be your portion. |
| 10 Al that comes from the earth returns to the earth, so too the wicked proceed from curse to destruction. |
| 11 Mourning concerns only the bodies of the dead, but the worthless name of sinners wil be blotted out. |
| 12 Be careful of your reputation, for it wil last you longer than a thousand great hoards of gold. |
| 13 A good life lasts a certain number of days, but a good reputation lasts for ever. |
| 14 Keep my instructions and be at peace, my children. Wisdom hidden away and treasure undisplayed,what use is either of these? |
| 15 Better someone who hides his fol y than one who hides his wisdom. |
| 16 Preserve a sense of shame in the fol owing matters, for not every kind of shame is right to harbour,nor is every situation correctly appraised by al . |
| 17 Be ashamed, before father and mother, of depraved behaviour, and before prince or potentate oftel ing lies; |
| 18 of wrong-doing before judge or magistrate, and of impiety before the assembly of the people; |
| 19 of sharp practice before your companion and your friend, and of theft before the neighbourhood youlive in. |
| 20 Before the truth and covenant of God, be ashamed of leaning elbows on the table, |
| 21 of being ungracious when giving or receiving, of ignoring those who greet you, |
| 22 of gazing at a loose woman, of repulsing your fellow-countryman, |
| 23 of misappropriating another's portion or gift, of paying court to another man's wife, |
| 24 of making advances to his servant-girl -- do not go near her bed- |
| 25 of saying disagreeable things to friends -- do not fol ow up a gift with a taunt- |
| 26 of repeating everything you hear and of betraying confidences. |
| 27 Then you wil know what true shame is, and you wil find yourself in everyone's graces. |