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[1]But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.
[2]In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,
[3]And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.
[4]For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.
[5]And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.
[6]As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.
[7]And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.
[8]They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.
[9]They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.
[10]But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.
[11]For whoso despiseth wisdom and nurture, he is miserable, and their hope is vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works unprofitable:
[12]Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked:
[13]Their offspring is cursed. Wherefore blessed is the barren that is undefiled, which hath not known the sinful bed: she shall have fruit in the visitation of souls.
[14]And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind.
[15]For glorious is the fruit of good labours: and the root of wisdom shall never fall away.
[16]As for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to their perfection, and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out.
[17]For though they live long, yet shall they be nothing regarded: and their last age shall be without honour.
[18]Or, if they die quickly, they have no hope, neither comfort in the day of trial.
[19]For horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation.
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