Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.
1
Better than this is childlessness with virtue, for in the memory of virtue is immortality, because it is known both by God and by mortals.
2 When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
2
When it is present, people imitate it, and they long for it when it has gone; throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph, victor in the contest for prizes that are undefiled.
3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
3
But the prolific brood of the ungodly will be of no use, and none of their illegitimate seedlings will strike a deep root or take a firm hold.
4 For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
4
For even if they put forth boughs for a while, standing insecurely they will be shaken by the wind, and by the violence of the winds they will be uprooted.
5 The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
5
The branches will be broken off before they come to maturity, and their fruit will be useless, not ripe enough to eat, and good for nothing.
6 For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
6
For children born of unlawful unions are witnesses of evil against their parents when God examines them.
7 But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
7
But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest.
8 For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
8
For old age is not honored for length of time, or measured by number of years;
9 But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
9
but understanding is gray hair for anyone, and a blameless life is ripe old age.
10 He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
10
There were some who pleased God and were loved by him, and while living among sinners were taken up.
11 Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
11
They were caught up so that evil might not change their understanding or guile deceive their souls.
12 For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
12
For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
13 He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
13
Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years;
14 For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
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for their souls were pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
15
Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, or take such a thing to heart, that God's grace and mercy are with his elect, and that he watches over his holy ones.
16 Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.
16
The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous.
17 For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.
17
For they will see the end of the wise, and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them, and for what he kept them safe.
18 They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.
18
The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them, but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this they will become dishonored corpses, and an outrage among the dead forever;
19 For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
19
because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and shake them from the foundations; they will be left utterly dry and barren, and they will suffer anguish, and the memory of them will perish.
20 And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
20
They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.