Anonymous (Septuagint) · a new plain-English translation from the original language
1| Do not long for a crowd of worthless children, nor delight in godless sons.
2| Though they multiply, do not delight in them, unless the fear of the Lord is with them.
3| Do not trust in their life, and do not rely on their numbers; for one is better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have godless children.
4| For through one man of understanding a city will be settled, but a tribe of lawless men will be laid waste.
5| Many such things have I seen with my eyes, and stronger things than these has my ear heard.
6| In the assembly of sinners a fire is kindled, and against a disobedient nation wrath blazed up.
7| He did not forgive the ancient giants, who revolted in their strength.
8| He did not spare the place where Lot sojourned, whom he loathed for their pride.
9| He showed no mercy to the nation doomed to destruction, those who were puffed up in their sins.
10| And so with six hundred thousand foot soldiers, assembled together in their stubborn, unyielding hearts.
11| Even if there be but one stiff-necked man, it would be a wonder if he went unpunished; for mercy and wrath are both from him, a master of atonement, yet one who pours out wrath.
12| As great as his mercy, so great also is his reproof; he judges a man according to his deeds.
13| The sinner will not escape with his plunder, and the patience of the godly will not be left unrewarded.
14| For every act of mercy he will make room; each will find as his deeds deserve.
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17| Do not say, "I will hide from the Lord; who from on high will remember me? Among so great a people I will not be remembered, for what is my soul among the countless creation?"
18| Look: the sky, and even the highest heavens above it, the deep and the earth, all tremble when he draws near.
19| Together the mountains and the foundations of the earth tremble and quake when he looks upon them.
20| And over these no heart will reflect; yet who can ponder his ways?
21| And there is a storm which no man will see, and the greater part of his works are hidden.
22| The works of his righteousness, who will declare them? Or who will wait for them? For the covenant is far off.
23| A man lacking in heart thinks such things, and a foolish, wandering man thinks folly.
24| Listen to me, my child, and learn knowledge, and give heed with your heart to my words.
25| I will set forth instruction by measure, and with precision I will declare knowledge.
26| By the Lord's judgment his works have existed from the beginning, and from their making he marked out their portions.
27| He ordered his works for all time, and their beginnings for their generations; they neither hunger nor grow weary, and they do not cease from their works.
28| No one of them presses upon his neighbor, and to the age they will never disobey his word.
29| Afterward the Lord surveyed the world and stocked it abundantly with his blessings.
30| With the soul of every living thing he covered its face, and to it their return is made.