Wisdom 3

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them.	1 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
2 To the unenlightened, they appeared to die, their departure was regarded as disaster,	2 They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction
3 their leaving us like annihilation; but they are at peace.	3 and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.
4 If, as it seemed to us, they suffered punishment, their hope was rich with immortality;	4 For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;
5 slight was their correction, great wil their blessings be. God was putting them to the test and has provedthem worthy to be with him;	5 Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.
6 he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a perfect burnt offering.	6 As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
7 At their time of visitation, they wil shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.	7 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
8 They wil judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord wil be their king for ever.	8 They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever.
9 Those who trust in him wil understand the truth, those who are faithful wil live with him in love; forgrace and mercy await his holy ones, and he intervenes on behalf of his chosen.	9 Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.
10 But the godless wil be duly punished for their reasoning, for having neglected the upright and desertedthe Lord.	10 But the wicked shall receive a punishment to match their thoughts, since they neglected justice and forsook the LORD.
11 Yes, wretched are they who scorn wisdom and discipline: their hope is void, their toil unavailing, theirachievements unprofitable;	11 For he who despises wisdom and instruction is doomed. Vain is their hope, fruitless are their labors, and worthless are their works.
12 their wives are reckless, their children depraved, their descendants accursed.	12 Their wives are foolish and their children wicked; accursed is their brood.
13 Blessed the sterile woman if she be blameless, and has not known an unlawful bed, for she wil havefruit at the visitation of souls.	13 Yes, blessed is she who, childless and undefiled, knew not transgression of the marriage bed; she shall bear fruit at the visitation of souls.
14 Blessed, too, the eunuch whose hand commits no crime, and who harbours no resentment against theLord: a special favour will be granted to him for his loyalty, a most desirable portion in the temple of the Lord.	14 So also the eunuch whose hand wrought no misdeed, who held no wicked thoughts against the LORD- For he shall be given fidelity's choice reward and a more gratifying heritage in the LORD'S temple.
15 For the fruit of honest labours is glorious, and the root of understanding does not decay.	15 For the fruit of noble struggles is a glorious one; and unfailing is the root of understanding.
16 But the children of adulterers wil not reach maturity, the offspring of an unlawful bed wil disappear.	16 But the children of adulterers will remain without issue, and the progeny of an unlawful bed will disappear.
17 Even if they live long, they wil count for nothing, their old age wil go unhonoured at the last;	17 For should they attain long life, they will be held in no esteem, and dishonored will their old age be at last;
18 while if they die early, they have neither hope nor comfort on the day of judgement,	18 While should they die abruptly, they have no hope nor comfort in the day of scrutiny;
19 for the end of a race of evil-doers is harsh.	19 for dire is the end of the wicked generation.