12. Righteous people are nothing but a nuisance, so let's look for chances to get rid of them. They are against what we do; they accuse us of breaking the Law of Moses and violating the traditions of our ancestors.
13. They claim to know God, and they call themselves the Lord's children.
14. We can't stand the sight of people like that; what they are contradicts our whole way of thinking.
15. They are not like other people; they have strange ways.
16. They think that our moral standards are so corrupt that everything we do should be avoided. They boast of having God for their Father, and believe that only the righteous will die happy.
17. But we'll see if that's true! Let's see what will happen when it's time for them to die!
18. If the righteous really are God's children, God will save them from their enemies.
19. So let's put them to the test. We'll be cruel to them, and torment them; then we'll find out how calm and reasonable they are! We'll find out just how much they can stand!
20. We'll condemn them to a shameful death. After all, they say that God will protect them.”
21. That is how evil people think, but they are wrong. They are blinded by their own wickedness.
22. They have never known God's secrets, never hoped for the rewards of a holy and blameless life.
23. When God created us, he did not intend that we should die; he made us like himself.
24. It was the Devil's jealousy that brought death into the world, and those who belong to the Devil are the ones who will die.