Wisdom 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.	1 O how beautiful is the chaste fruit of purity! For its remembrance is immortal, because it is observed both with God and with men.
2 When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.	2 When it is present, they imitate it, and they desire it when it has withdrawn itself, and it triumphs crowned forever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts.
3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.	3 But the great number of the many different kinds of the impious will not be to their advantage, and spurious seedlings will not be given deep roots, nor will they establish any firm foundation.
4 For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.	4 And if they spring forth with branches for a time, yet, being set infirmly, they will be shaken by the wind, and, by the superabundance of the winds, they will be eradicated.
5 The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.	5 For the incomplete branches will be broken, and their fruits will be useless, and bitter to eat, and fit for nothing.
6 For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.	6 For all the sons born from iniquity are witnesses of wickedness against their parents at their interrogation.
7 But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.	7 But the just, if death seizes him beforehand, will be refreshed.
8 For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.	8 For old age is made venerable, neither by lasting long, nor by counting the number of years; yet understanding is the gray hair of wisdom for men,
9 But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.	9 and an immaculate life is a generation of sages.
10 He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.	10 Pleasing to God, having been made beloved, and living among sinners, he was transformed.
11 Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.	11 He was quickly taken away, for malice could not alter his understanding, nor could deceit beguile his soul.
12 For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.	12 For fascination with entertainment obscures good things, and the unfaithfulness of desire subverts the mind without malice.
13 He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:	13 Completed in a short time, he fulfilled many times.
14 For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.	14 Truly his soul was pleasing to God. Because of this, he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities, but the people see this and do not understand, nor do they place such things in their hearts:
15 This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.	15 that the grace and mercy of God is with his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.
16 Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.	16 But the just dead will condemn the impious living, and youth hastily completed results in a long unjust life.
17 For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.	17 For they will see the end of the wise, and will neither understand, nor imagine, that he is of God, and that therefore the Lord has safeguarded him.
18 They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.	18 For they will see and despise him, but the Lord will ridicule them.
19 For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.	19 And after this, they will fall without honor and with contempt among the dead forever. Seeing that they are puffed up and speechless, he will shatter them and will shake them from the foundations all the way to the top, to their utter desolation, and they will grieve and their remembrance will perish.
20 And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.	20 They will hurry with fear at the understanding of their sins, and their iniquities will bear witness against them.