1
Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours.
2
These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation.
3
Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach.
4
We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour.
5
Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.
6
Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us.
7
We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known.
8
What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us?
9
All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on,
10
And as a ship that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters:
11
Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight; she moved her wings, and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way: