Wisdom of Solomon 4
King James Version with ApocryphaTranslation
King James Version with Apocrypha
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
1Better 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.
1O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.
2When 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.
2When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it when it hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the reward of undefiled conflicts.
3But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
3But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation.
4For 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.
4And 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.
5The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
5For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing.
6For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
6For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
7But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest.
8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
8For 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.
9But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
9And a spotless life is old age.
10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
10He pleased God and was beloved, and living among sinners he was translated.
11Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
11He was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
12For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind.
13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
13Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time:
14For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
14For 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:
15This 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.
15That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect to his chosen.
16Thus 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.
16But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.
17For 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.
17For they shall see the end of the wise man, and shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety.
18They 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.
18They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall laugh them to scorn.
19For 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.
19And 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.
20And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
20They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them.
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