Wisdom 3:13-19; Wisdom 4:1-6

Wisdom 3:13-19

13 their offspring are accursed. For blessed is the barren woman who is undefiled, who has not entered into a sinful union; she will have fruit when God examines souls.

14 Blessed also is the eunuch whose hands have done no lawless deed, and who has not devised wicked things against the Lord; for special favor will be shown him for his faithfulness, and a place of great delight in the temple of the Lord.

15 For the fruit of good labors is renowned, and the root of understanding does not fail.

16 But children of adulterers will not come to maturity, and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish.

17 Even if they live long they will be held of no account, and finally their old age will be without honor.

18 If they die young, they will have no hope and no consolation on the day of judgment.

19 For the end of an unrighteous generation is grievous.

Wisdom 4:1-6

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, 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 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 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 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 born of unlawful unions are witnesses of evil against their parents when God examines them.