Wisdom 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Better to have no children yet to have virtue, since immortality perpetuates its memory; for God andhuman beings both recognise it.	1 Better is childlessness with virtue; for immortal is its memory: because both by God is it acknowledged, and by men.
2 Present, we imitate it, absent, we long for it; crowned, it holds triumph through eternity, having strivenfor untainted prizes and emerged the victor.	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.
3 But the offspring of the godless come to nothing, however prolific, sprung from a bastard stock, they willnever strike deep roots, never put down firm foundations.	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.
4 They may branch out for a time, but, on unsteady foundations, they will be rocked by the wind anduprooted by the force of the storm;	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;
5 their branches, yet unformed, wil be snapped off, their fruit be useless, too unripe to eat, fit for nothing.	5 Their twigs shall be broken off untimely, and their fruit be useless, unripe for eating, and fit for nothing.
6 For children begotten of unlawful bed witness, when put on trial, to their parents' wickedness.	6 For children born of lawless unions give evidence of the wickedness of their parents, when they are examined.
7 The upright, though he die before his time, will find rest.	7 But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.
8 Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life;	8 For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.
9 understanding, this is grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age.	9 Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
10 Having won God's favour, he has been loved and, as he was living among sinners, has been takenaway.	10 He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported--
11 He has been carried off so that evil may not warp his understanding or deceitfulness seduce his soul;	11 Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul;
12 for the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade, and the whirlwind of desire corrupts asimple heart.	12 For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.
13 Having come to perfection so soon, he has lived long;	13 Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career;
14 his soul being pleasing to the Lord, he has hurried away from the wickedness around him. Yet peoplelook on, uncomprehending; and it does not enter their heads	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.
15 that grace and mercy await his chosen ones and that he intervenes on behalf of his holy ones.	15
16 The upright who dies condemns the godless who survive, and youth quickly perfected condemns thelengthy old age of the wicked.	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.
17 These people see the end of the wise without understanding what the Lord has in store or why he hastaken such a one to safety;	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.
18 they look on and sneer, but the Lord wil laugh at them.	18 They see, and hold him in contempt; but the LORD laughs them to scorn.
19 Soon they wil be corpses without honour, objects of horror among the dead for ever. For he wilshatter them and fling them headlong and dumbfounded. He wil shake them from their foundations; they wil beutterly laid waste, a prey to grief, and their memory wil perish.	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.
20 When the count of their sins has been drawn up, in terror they wil come, and their crimes, confrontingthem, wil accuse them.	20 Fearful shall they come, at the counting up of their sins, and their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.