1. How bitter, death,is the thought of youto those who are at peaceamong their possessions,to those who aren’t anxiously distracted, who prosper at everythingand still have the strengthto enjoy good food.
2. Your sentence looks good, death,to a person who is needyand lacks strength,who is extremely old and anxiousabout everything,who is not compliantand whose endurance has failed.
3. Don’t fear death’s judgment;remember those who came before youand those who will come after you.
4. This is the Lord’s judgment for all beings:Why should you rejectthe good pleasure of the Most High?Whether ten or one hundredor one thousand years,there’s no arguing about lifein the grave.
5. The children of sinners are detestable,and they live togetherin the neighborhoods of the ungodly.
6. The inheritance of sinners’ childrenwill be destroyed,and their offspringwill always live in disgrace.
7. Children will blame an ungodly father,because they will be disgracedbecause of him.
8. How terrible it will be for youwho are ungodly,who have abandoned the Lawof the Most High!
9. When you are born,you are born to a curse,and when you die,you will leave a curse as your legacy.
10. Everything that’s from the earthwill go back to the earth;so the ungodly come from a curseand go to destruction.
11. Human beings show their griefin their bodies,but the no-good name of sinnerswill be erased.
12. Guard your reputation,for it will continue after youlonger than one thousandgreat treasures of gold.
13. A good life has a limited number of days,but a good name will continue forever.
14. Hold on to your education in peace,my children.Hidden wisdomand an invisible treasure—of what use is either?
15. People who hide their foolishnessare better than peoplewho hide their wisdom.
16. Therefore, respect my judgment,because it isn’t good to guardagainst every shame,and not everyone, in good faith,holds all the same thingsin good repute.
17. Be ashamed:of sexual immoralitybefore your father and mother,of lying before a prince or leader,
18. of error before a judge and an official,of lawlessness before the assemblyand the people,of injustice before a partner and friend,
19. of theft in the neighborhoodwhere you are staying.Be ashamed:before the Lord’s truth and covenant,of leaning on your elbow at meals,of showing contemptwhen receiving or giving,
20. of silence when people greet you,of looking at a female escort,
21. of turning away a relative,of depriving someone of a shareor a gift,of staring at another man’s wife,
22. of fooling around with hisfemale servant—(and don’t get near her bed),of reproachful words before friends(and don’t criticize after you give),