1Do not desire the good looks of worthless youths, nor rejoice in sons of iniquity.
2Even if they are fruitful, do not delight in them, if the fear of Yahweh is not with them.
3Do not trust in their life, nor rely on their posterity, for they will have no good end. For one who does God’s will is better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than having many sons in iniquity or a wicked posterity.
4From one childless man who fears Yahweh a city can be settled, but a family of traitors will be laid waste.
5My eye has seen many such things, and my ear has heard mightier things than these.
6In the assembly of the wicked a fire is kindled; against a godless nation wrath blazes.
7He did not forgive the princes of old, who rebelled in their strength.
8He had no pity on Lot’s neighbors, who were insolent in their pride.
9He had no pity on the nation doomed to destruction, who were trampled down in their sin.
10So too the six hundred thousand foot soldiers, who were gathered in the arrogance of their heart.
11Even if one is stiff-necked, it is a wonder if he will go unpunished. For mercy and anger are with him; he pardons and forgives, but his fury rests upon the wicked.
12As his mercy is great, so is his rebuke; he judges a person according to their deeds.
13The sinner will not escape with his plunder, nor will the desire of the righteous be frustrated forever.
14Everyone who does righteousness has a reward.
15Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart for not knowing him, so that his deeds would be revealed under heaven.
16His mercy is seen by all his creatures; his light and his glory he has apportioned to humankind.
17Do not say, “I am hidden from God; in the heights, who will remember me? Among a great people I will not be noticed; what is my soul among the countless spirits of all humankind?”
18Behold the heavens and the heaven of heavens, the deep and the earth; when he descends they stand firm, when he visits them they tremble.
19Even the bases of the mountains and the foundations of the world quake violently when he looks at them.
20He will not pay attention to me, and who will take note of my ways?
21If I sin, no eye sees me; if I am false in utter secrecy, who knows?
22Who will declare a righteous deed? And what hope is there? For the decree is far off.
23Those who lack sense think these things; a foolish man imagines this.
24Listen to me and accept my insight; pay attention to my words.
25I will pour out my spirit by measure and declare my knowledge with humility.
26When God created his works from the beginning, he assigned their rule over their life.
27He ordered his works for all time, their domains for all their generations. They neither hunger nor grow weary, and they never cease from their tasks.
28None of them crowds its neighbor, and they will never disobey his word.
29After this, the Lord looked upon the earth and filled it with his good things.
30He covered its surface with the life of every creature, and to it they return.
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