Wisdom 4
The virtuous and pure are remembered forever, both by God and men, and their legacy endures. In contrast, the wicked may appear to thrive for a time, but they will ultimately be uprooted and destroyed. The righteous, even if they die young, are pleasing to God and are taken away from the midst of iniquity, while the wicked will be punished and their memory will perish. The just will ultimately condemn the impious, and God will safeguard his holy ones.
O how beautiful is the chaste fruit of purity! For its remembrance is immortal, because it is observed both with God and with menWhen it is present, they imitate it, and they desire it when it has withdrawn itself, and it triumphs crowned forever, winning the reward of undefiled conflictsBut the great number of the many different kinds of the impious will not be to their advantage, and spurious seedlings will not be given deep roots, nor will they establish any firm foundationAnd if they spring forth with branches for a time, yet, being set infirmly, they will be shaken by the wind, and, by the superabundance of the winds, they will be eradicatedFor the incomplete branches will be broken, and their fruits will be useless, and bitter to eat, and fit for nothingFor all the sons born from iniquity are witnesses of wickedness against their parents at their interrogationBut the just, if death seizes him beforehand, will be refreshedFor old age is made venerable, neither by lasting long, nor by counting the number of years; yet understanding is the gray hair of wisdom for menand an immaculate life is a generation of sagesPleasing to God, having been made beloved, and living among sinners, he was transformedHe was quickly taken away, for malice could not alter his understanding, nor could deceit beguile his soulFor fascination with entertainment obscures good things, and the unfaithfulness of desire subverts the mind without maliceCompleted in a short time, he fulfilled many timesTruly his soul was pleasing to God. Because of this, he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities, but the people see this and do not understand, nor do they place such things in their heartsthat the grace and mercy of God is with his holy ones, and he watches over his electBut the just dead will condemn the impious living, and youth hastily completed results in a long unjust lifeFor they will see the end of the wise, and will neither understand, nor imagine, that he is of God, and that therefore the Lord has safeguarded himFor they will see and despise him, but the Lord will ridicule themAnd after this, they will fall without honor and with contempt among the dead forever. Seeing that they are puffed up and speechless, he will shatter them and will shake them from the foundations all the way to the top, to their utter desolation, and they will grieve and their remembrance will perishThey will hurry with fear at the understanding of their sins, and their iniquities will bear witness against them
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