1 melior est generatio
cum claritate
inmortalitas est enim in memoria illius
quoniam et apud Deum nota est et apud homines
2 cum praesens est imitantur illam
et desiderant eam cum se duxerit
et in perpetuum coronata triumphat
incoinquinatorum certaminum praemium vincens
3 multigena autem impiorum multitudo non erit utilis
et spuria vitulamina non dabunt radices altas
nec stabile firmamentum conlocabunt
4 et si in ramis in tempore germinaverint
infirmiter posita a vento commovebuntur
et a nimietate ventorum eradicabuntur
5 confringentur rami inconsummati
et fructus illorum inutilis
et acerbi ad manducandum et ad nihilum apti
6 ex iniquis enim omnes filii qui nascuntur
testes sunt nequitiae adversus parentes in interrogatione sua
7 iustus autem si morte praeoccupatus fuerit in refrigerio
erit
8 senectus enim venerabilis est non diuturna
neque numero annorum conputata
cani sunt autem sensus hominibus
9 et aetas senectutis vita inmaculata
10 placens Deo factus dilectus
et vivens inter peccatores translatus est
11 raptus est ne malitia mutaret intellectum illius
aut fictio
decipiat animam illius
12 fascinatio enim nugacitatis obscurat bona
et inconstantia concupiscentiae transvertit sensum
sine malitia
13 consummatus in brevi explevit tempora multa
14 placita enim erat Deo anima illius
propter hoc properavit educere illum de medio iniquitatum
populi autem videntes et non intellegentes
nec ponentes in praecordiis talia
15 quoniam gratia Dei et misericordia in
sanctos illius
et respectus in electos illius
16 condemnat autem iustus mortuus vivos impios
et iuventus celerius consummata longam vitam
iniusti
17 videbunt enim finem sapientis
et non intellegent quid cogitaverit de illo Deus
et quare munierit illum Dominus
18 videbunt enim et contemnent
illos autem Dominus inridebit
19 et erunt post haec decidentes sine honore
et in contumelia inter mortuos in perpetuum
quoniam disrumpet illos inflatos sine voce
et commovebit illos a fundamentis
et usque ad supremum desolabuntur
et erunt gementes et memoria illorum periet
20 venient in cogitatione peccatorum suorum timidi
et traducent illos ex adverso iniquitates
ipsorum
1 Better 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.
2 When 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.
3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
4 For 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.
5 The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
6 For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
7 But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
8 For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
9 But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
10 He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
11 Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
12 For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
13 He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
14 For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
15 This 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.
16 Thus 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.
17 For 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.
18 They 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.
19 For 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.
20 And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.