Weisheit 3

1But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.

2In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:

3And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.

4And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.

5Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.

6As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.

7The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds.

8They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

9They that trust in him, shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace is to his elect.

10But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord.

11For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works unprofitable.

12Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked.

13Their offspring is cursed: for happy is the barren: and the undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin: she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls.

14And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked things against God: for the precious gift of faith shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God.

15For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom never faileth.

16But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.

17And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their last old age shall be without honour.

18And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of comfort in the day of trial.

19For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race.

1[Justorum autem animæ in manu Dei sunt, et non tangent illos tormentum mortis.

2Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori, et æstimata est afflictio exitus illorum,

3et quod a nobis est iter exterminium; illi autem sunt in pace:

4etsi coram hominibus tormenta passi sunt, spes illorum immortalitate plena est.

5In paucis vexati sunt, in multis bene disponentur, quoniam Deus tentavit eos, et invenit illos dignos se.

6Tamquam aurum in fornace probavit illos, et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos, et in tempore erit respectus illorum.

7Fulgebunt justi et tamquam scintillæ in arundineto discurrent.

8Judicabunt nationes, et dominabuntur populis, et regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum.

9Qui confidunt in illo intelligent veritatem, et fideles in dilectione acquiescent illi, quoniam donum et pax est electis ejus.

10Impii autem secundum quæ cogitaverunt correptionem habebunt: qui neglexerunt justum, et a Domino recesserunt.

11Sapientiam enim et disciplinam qui abjicit infelix est: et vacua est spes illorum, et labores sine fructu, et inutilia opera eorum.

12Mulieres eorum insensatæ sunt, et nequissimi filii eorum.

13Maledicta creatura eorum, quoniam felix est sterilis; et incoinquinata, quæ nescivit thorum in delicto, habebit fructum in respectione animarum sanctarum;

14et spado qui non operatus est per manus suas iniquitatem, nec cogitavit adversus Deum nequissima: dabitur enim illi fidei donum electum, et sors in templo Dei acceptissima.

15Bonorum enim laborum gloriosus est fructus, et quæ non concidat radix sapientiæ.

16Filii autem adulterorum in inconsummatione erunt, et ab iniquo thoro semen exterminabitur.

17Et si quidem longæ vitæ erunt, in nihilum computabuntur, et sine honore erit novissima senectus illorum:

18et si celerius defuncti fuerint, non habebunt spem, nec in die agnitionis allocutionem.

19Nationis enim iniquæ diræ sunt consummationes.]

1But the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment of death will touch them.

2In the eyes of the foolish, they seemed to die, and their departure was considered an affliction,

3and their going away from us, a banishment. Yet they are in peace.

4And though, in the sight of men, they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.

5Troubled in few things, in many things they will be well compensated, because God has tested them and found them worthy of himself.

6Like gold in the furnace, he has proved them, and as a holocaust victim, he has received them, and in the time of their visitation

7they will shine, and they will dash about like sparks among stubble.

8They will judge the nations and they will rule over the people, and their Lord will reign forever.

9Those who trust in him, will understand the truth, and those who are faithful in love will rest in him, because grace and peace is for his elect.

10But the impious will be chastised according to their thoughts, for they have neglected the just and have retreated from the Lord.

11For whoever abandons wisdom and instruction is unhappy, and their hope is empty, and their labors without fruit, and their works useless.

12Their wives are foolish and their sons are wicked; the things that serve them are accursed.

13Therefore, fertile is the barren and undefiled, who has not known transgressions in bed; she will bear fruit by caring for holy souls.

14And fertile is the celibate, who has not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wickedness against God; for to him will be given a special gift of faith and a very welcome place in the temple of the Lord.

15For the fruit of good labors is glorious and the root of wisdom shall never perish.

16But the sons of adulterers will not reach completion, and the offspring of a sinful bed will be banished.

17And if they live long, they will be counted as nothing, and their last years of old-age will be without honor.

18And if they die quickly, they will have no hope, nor words of comfort on the day of reckoning.

19For the iniquities of the people have a dreadful result.