16
1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children,
Neither delight in ungodly sons.
2 If they multiply, delight not in them,
Except the fear of the Lord be with them.
3 Trust not thou in their life,
Neither rely on their condition:
For one is better than a thousand;
And to die childless than to have ungodly children.
4 For from one that hath understanding shall a city be peopled;
But a race of wicked men shall be made desolate.
5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes;
And mine ear hath heard mightier things than these.
6 In the congregation of sinners shall a fire be kindled;
And in a disobedient nation wrath is kindled.
7 He was not pacified toward the giants of old time,
Who revolted in their strength.
8 He spared not those with whom Lot sojourned,
Whom he abhorred for their pride.
9 He pitied not the people of perdition,
Who were taken away in their sins.
10 And in like manner the six hundred thousand footmen,
Who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
11 Even if there be one stiffnecked person,
It is marvel if he shall be unpunished:
For mercy and wrath are with him;
He is mighty to forgive, and he poureth out wrath.
12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also:
He judgeth a man according to his works.
13 The sinner shall not escape with his plunder;
And the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
14 He will make room for every work of mercy;
Each man shall find according to his works. 15-16 *
17 Say not thou, I shall be hidden from the Lord;
And who shall remember me from on high?
I shall not be known among so many people;
For what is my soul in a boundless creation?
18 Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens,
The deep, and the earth, shall be moved when he shall visit.
19 The mountains and the foundations of the earth together
Are shaken with trembling, when he looketh upon them.
20 And no heart shall think upon these things:
And who shall conceive his ways?
21 And there is a tempest which no man shall see;
Yea, the more part of his works are † hid.
22 Who shall declare the works of his righteousness?
Or who shall endure them?
For his covenant is afar off. ‡
23 He that is wanting in § understanding thinketh upon these things;
And an unwise and erring man thinketh follies.
24 My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge,
And give heed to my words with thy heart.
25 I will shew forth instruction by weight,
And declare knowledge exactly.
26 In the judgement of the Lord are his works from the beginning;
And from the making of them he disposed the parts thereof.
27 He garnished his works for ever,
And the beginnings of them unto their generations:
They neither hunger, nor are weary,
And they cease not from their works.
28 No one thrusteth aside his neighbour;
And they shall never disobey his word.
29 After this also the Lord looked upon the earth,
And filled it with his blessings.
30 **†† All manner of living things covered the face thereof;
And into it is their return.
* 16:15-16 Verses 15 and 16 are omitted by the best authorities. † 16:21 Gr. among hidden things. ‡ 16:22 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities. § 16:23 Gr. heart. ** 16:30 The Greek text of this line is uncertain. †† 16:30 Gr. The soul of every living thing.