Chapter 4

¹ Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue:

Wis 4:1

² When it is present, men take example at it;

Wis 4:2

³ But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive,

Wis 4:3

⁴ For though they flourish in branches for a time;

Wis 4:4

⁵ The imperfect branches shall be broken off,

Wis 4:5

⁶ For children begotten of unlawful beds

Wis 4:6

⁷ But though the righteous be prevented with death,

Wis 4:7

⁸ For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time,

Wis 4:8

⁹ But wisdom is the gray hair unto men,

Wis 4:9

¹⁰ He pleased God, and was beloved of him:

Wis 4:10

¹¹ Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding,

Wis 4:11

¹² For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest;

Wis 4:12

¹³ He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

Wis 4:13

¹⁴ For his soul pleased the Lord;

Wis 4:14

¹⁵ This the people saw, and understood not,

Wis 4:15

¹⁶ Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living;

Wis 4:16

¹⁷ For they shall see the end of the wise,

Wis 4:17

¹⁸ They shall see him, and despise him;

Wis 4:18

¹⁹ For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless;

Wis 4:19

²⁰ And when they cast up the account of their sins, they shall come with fear:

Wis 4:20