Wisdom 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Better is childlessness with virtue; for immortal is its memory: because both by God is it acknowledged, and by 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 imitate it, and they long for it when it is gone; And forever it marches crowned in triumph, victorious in unsullied deeds of valor.	2 When it is present, they imitate it, and they desire it when it has withdrawn itself, and it triumphs crowned forever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts.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 numerous progeny of the wicked shall be of no avail; their spurious offshoots shall not strike deep root nor take firm hold.	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 even though their branches flourish for a time, they are unsteady and shall be rocked by the wind and, by the violence of the winds, uprooted;	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 Their twigs shall be broken off untimely, and their fruit be useless, unripe for eating, and fit 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 born of lawless unions give evidence of the wickedness of their parents, when they are examined.	6 For all the sons born from iniquity are witnesses of wickedness against their parents at their interrogation.
7 But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.	7 But the just, if death seizes him beforehand, will be refreshed.
8 For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms 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 Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.	9 and an immaculate life is a generation of sages.
10 He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported--	10 Pleasing to God, having been made beloved, and living among sinners, he was transformed.
11 Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind 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 witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.	12 For fascination with entertainment obscures good things, and the unfaithfulness of desire subverts the mind without malice.
13 Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career;	13 Completed in a short time, he fulfilled many times.
14 for his soul was pleasing to the LORD, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account.	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	15 that the grace and mercy of God is with his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.
16 Yes, the just man dead condemns the sinful who live, and youth swiftly completed condemns the many years of the wicked man grown old.	16 But the just dead will condemn the impious living, and youth hastily completed results in a long unjust life.
17 For they see the death of the wise man and do not understand what the LORD intended for him, or why he made him secure.	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 see, and hold him in contempt; but the LORD laughs them to scorn.	18 For they will see and despise him, but the Lord will ridicule them.
19 And they shall afterward become dishonored corpses and an unceasing mockery among the dead. For he shall strike them down speechless and prostrate and rock them to their foundations; They shall be utterly laid waste and shall be in grief and their memory 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 Fearful shall they come, at the counting up of their sins, and their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.	20 They will hurry with fear at the understanding of their sins, and their iniquities will bear witness against them.