Wisdom of Solomon

2:1 For the [vngodly] said, reasoning with themselues, but not aright: Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedie: neither was there any man knowen to haue returned from the graue.

2:1 For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright, Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave.

2:2 For wee are borne at all aduenture: & we shalbe heereafter as though we had neuer bene: for the breath in our nostrils is as smoke, and a litle sparke in the mouing of our heart.

2:2 For we are born at all adventure: and we shall be hereafter as though we had never been: for the breath in our nostrils is as smoke, and a little spark in the moving of our heart:

2:3 Which being extinguished, our body shall be turned into ashes, and our spirit shall vanish as the soft aire:

2:3 Which being extinguished, our body shall be turned into ashes, and our spirit shall vanish as the soft air,

2:4 And our name shalbe forgotten in time, and no man shall haue our works in remembrance, and our life shall passe away as the trace of a cloud: and shall be dispersed as a mist that is driuen away with the beames of the Sunne, and ouercome with the heat thereof.

2:4 And our name shall be forgotten in time, and no man shall have our works in remembrance, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, that is driven away with the beams of the sun, and overcome with the heat thereof.

2:5 For our time is a very shadow that passeth away: and after our end there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no man commeth againe.

2:5 For our time is a very shadow that passeth away; and after our end there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no man cometh again.

2:6 Come on therefore, let vs enioy the good things that are present: and let vs speedily vse the creatures like as in youth.

2:6 Come on therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present: and let us speedily use the creatures like as in youth.

2:7 Let vs fill our selues with costly wine, and ointments: and let no flower of the Spring passe by vs.

2:7 Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments: and let no flower of the spring pass by us:

2:8 Let vs crowne our selues with Rose buds, before they be withered.

2:8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:

2:9 Let none of vs goe without his part of our voluptuousnesse: let vs leaue tokens of our ioyfulnesse in euery place: for this is our portion, and our lot is this.

2:9 Let none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness: let us leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place: for this is our portion, and our lot is this.

2:10 Let vs oppresse the poore righteous man, let vs not spare the widow, nor reuerence the ancient gray haires of the aged.

2:10 Let us oppress the poor righteous man, let us not spare the widow, nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged.

2:11 Let our strength bee the Lawe of iustice: for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth.

2:11 Let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth.

2:12 Therefore let vs lye in wait for the righteous: because he is not for our turne, and he is cleane contrary to our doings: he vpbraideth vs with our offending the Law, and obiecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education.

2:12 Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education.

2:13 Hee professeth to haue the knowledge of God: and hee calleth himselfe the childe of the Lord.

2:13 He professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself the child of the Lord.

2:14 Hee was made to reprooue our thoughts.

2:14 He was made to reprove our thoughts.

2:15 Hee is grieuous vnto vs euen to beholde: for his life is not like other mens, his waies are of another fashion.

2:15 He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another fashion.

2:16 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our wayes as from filthinesse: he pronounceth the end of the iust to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father.

2:16 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father.

2:17 Let vs see if his wordes be true: and let vs proue what shall happen in the end of him.

2:17 Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him.

2:18 For if the iust man be the sonne of God, he will helpe him, and deliuer him from the hand of his enemies.

2:18 For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies.

2:19 Let vs examine him with despitefulnesse and torrture, that we may know his meekenesse, and prooue his patience.

2:19 Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience.

2:20 Let vs condemne him with a shamefull death: for by his owne saying, he shall be respected.

2:20 Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected.

2:21 Such things they did imagine, and were deceiued: for their owne wickednesse hath blinded them.

2:21 Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them.

2:22 As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousnesse: nor discerned a reward for blamelesse soules.

2:22 As for the mysteries of God, they kn ew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls.

2:23 For God created man to bee immortall, and made him to be an image of his owne eternitie.

2:23 For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity.

2:24 Neuerthelesse through enuie of the deuill came death into the world: and they that doe holde of his side doe finde it.

2:24 Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it.