Wisdom of Solomon 4

1Childlessness with virtue is better than this, For immortality is in its memory; Because it is known both by God and by man.

κρείσσων ἀτεκνία μετὰ ἀρετῆς ἀθανασία γάρ ἐστιν ἐν μνήμῃ αὐτῆς ὅτι καὶ παρὰ θεῷ γινώσκεται καὶ παρὰ ἀνθρώποις

2When virtue is present, people imitate it, And when it goes away, they long for it. Throughout one's lifetime, Virtue leads the struggle for undefiled prizes, Wearing a crown and conquering.

παροῦσάν τε μιμοῦνται αὐτὴν καὶ ποθοῦσιν ἀπελθοῦσαν καὶ ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι στεφανηφοροῦσα πομπεύει τὸν τῶν ἀμιάντων ἄθλων ἀγῶνα νικήσασα

3But the prolific multitude of the ungodly are useful to no one, And none of their illegitimate seedlings will grow a deep root Or establish a sure footing.

πολύγονον δὲ ἀσεβῶν πλῆθος οὐ χρησιμεύσει καὶ ἐκ νόθων μοσχευμάτων οὐ δώσει ῥίζαν εἰς βάθος οὐδὲ ἀσφαλῆ βάσιν ἑδράσει

4For although they may flourish in their branches for a time, Yet without a sure footing they will be shaken by the wind And uprooted by the force of the winds.

κἂν γὰρ ἐν κλάδοις πρὸς καιρὸν ἀναθάλῃ ἐπισφαλῶς βεβηκότα ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευθήσεται καὶ ὑπὸ βίας ἀνέμων ἐκριζωθήσεται

5Their twigs shall be broken off before they reach maturity, And their fruit will be useless, Not ripe for eating or good for anything.

περικλασθήσονται κλῶνες ἀτέλεστοι καὶ ὁ καρπὸς αὐτῶν ἄχρηστος ἄωρος εἰς βρῶσιν καὶ εἰς οὐθὲν ἐπιτήδειος

6For children born from lawless unions Are witnesses of evil against their parents In their close examination.

ἐκ γὰρ ἀνόμων ὕπνων τέκνα γεννώμενα μάρτυρές εἰσιν πονηρίας κατὰ γονέων ἐν ἐξετασμῷ αὐτῶν

7But though a righteous man may die before his time, He shall be at rest.

δίκαιος δὲ ἐὰν φθάσῃ τελευτῆσαι ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἔσται

8For old age is not honored for its length of existence, Nor measured by its number of years;

γῆρας γὰρ τίμιον οὐ τὸ πολυχρόνιον οὐδὲ ἀριθμῷ ἐτῶν μεμέτρηται

9But discernment is gray hair for mankind, And a spotless life is the maturity of old age.

πολιὰ δέ ἐστιν φρόνησις ἀνθρώποις καὶ ἡλικία γήρως βίος ἀκηλίδωτος

10There was once a man pleasing to God and loved by Him, And while living among sinners he was taken up.

εὐάρεστος θεῷ γενόμενος ἠγαπήθη καὶ ζῶν μεταξὺ ἁμαρτωλῶν μετετέθη

11He was caught up lest evil change his understanding Or deceit deceive his soul.

ἡρπάγη μὴ κακία ἀλλάξῃ σύνεσιν αὐτοῦ ἢ δόλος ἀπατήσῃ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ

12For envy arising from lack of judgment obscures what is good, And a whirling of desire undermines an innocent heart.

βασκανία γὰρ φαυλότητος ἀμαυροῖ τὰ καλά καὶ ῥεμβασμὸς ἐπιθυμίας μεταλλεύει νοῦν ἄκακον

13He was made perfect, For in a short time he fulfilled long years,

τελειωθεὶς ἐν ὀλίγῳ ἐπλήρωσεν χρόνους μακρούς

14For his soul was pleasing to the Lord; Therefore, He took him early from the midst of evil. Yet peoples saw this but did not understand, Nor take such a thing to heart,

ἀρεστὴ γὰρ ἦν κυρίῳ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ διὰ τοῦτο ἔσπευσεν ἐκ μέσου πονηρίας οἱ δὲ λαοὶ ἰδόντες καὶ μὴ νοήσαντες μηδὲ θέντες ἐπὶ διανοίᾳ τὸ τοιοῦτο

15That the Lord's grace and mercy are with His elect And that He watches over His holy ones.

ὅτι χάρις καὶ ἔλεος ἐν τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπισκοπὴ ἐν τοῖς ὁσίοις αὐτοῦ

16But a righteous man who is dead Shall condemn the ungodly who are living, And a youth who is quickly perfected Shall condemn the ripe old age of a wrongdoer.

κατακρινεῖ δὲ δίκαιος καμὼν τοὺς ζῶντας ἀσεβεῖς καὶ νεότης τελεσθεῖσα ταχέως πολυετὲς γῆρας ἀδίκου

17For they will see the end of the wise man, But will not understand what the Lord purposed for him Or why He kept him safe.

ὄψονται γὰρ τελευτὴν σοφοῦ καὶ οὐ νοήσουσιν τί ἐβουλεύσατο περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς τί ἠσφαλίσατο αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος

18They will see and despise him, But the Lord will laugh them to scorn.

ὄψονται καὶ ἐξουθενήσουσιν αὐτοὺς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἐκγελάσεται

19After this they shall be dead without honor And an insult among the dead continually; Because He will dash them headlong and speechless to the ground And shake them from the foundations. They shall be left dry and barren to the very end; They shall be in pain, And their memory shall perish.

καὶ ἔσονται μετὰ τοῦτο εἰς πτῶμα ἄτιμον καὶ εἰς ὕβριν ἐν νεκροῖς δι᾿ αἰῶνος ὅτι ῥήξει αὐτοὺς ἀφώνους πρηνεῖς καὶ σαλεύσει αὐτοὺς ἐκ θεμελίων καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου χερσωθήσονται καὶ ἔσονται ἐν ὀδύνῃ καὶ ἡ μνήμη αὐτῶν ἀπολεῖται

20They will come with dread In the day of reckoning for their sins, And their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

ἐλεύσονται ἐν συλλογισμῷ ἁμαρτημάτων αὐτῶν δειλοί καὶ ἐλέγξει αὐτοὺς ἐξ ἐναντίας τὰ ἀνομήματα αὐτῶν