Wisdom 14

1 And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out. 2 For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing. 3 For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial. 4 But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. 5 For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. 6 And a spotless life is old age. 7 He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was translated. 8 He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 9 For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. 10 Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. 11 For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not, nor lay up such things in their hearts: 12 That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect to his chosen. 13 But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust. 14 For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety. 15 They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall laugh them to scorn. 16 And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall perish. 17 They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them. 19 Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours. 20 These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, 21 Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a parable of reproach. 22 We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. 23 Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. 24 Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us. 25 We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known. 26 What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? 27 All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, 28 And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found. nor the path of its keel in the waters: 29 Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings, and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way: 30 Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known: 31 So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness.