Wisdom of Solomon Chap IV.

(This excerpt is taken from The Apocrapha An American Translation by: Edgar J. Goodspeed. Vintage Books (A Division of Random House) New York. C. 1959. 1938.

It is better to be childless but virtuous,
For in the memory of virtue there is immortality,
For is is recognized by both God and men;
2 When it is present, men imitate it,
And they long for it when it is gone.
And it marches in triumph, wearing a wreath forever,
Victorious in the contest for prizes that are undefiled.
3 But the numerous brood of the ungodly will be unprofitable,
And with its base-born slips will not strike its roots deep,
Or establish a secure foundation.
4 For though it flourishes with branches for while,
It stands insecurely and will be shaken by the wind,
And uprooted by the force of the winds.
5 The twigs will be broken off before they are grown,
And their fruit will be useless, not ripe enough to eat,
And good for nothing.
6 For children born of unlawful slumbers
Will be witnesses to their parents' guilt when they are examined.
7 But an upright man, if he dies before his time, will be at rest,
8 For an honored old age does not depend on length of time, 
And is not measured by the number of one's years,
9 But understanding is gray hair for men,
And blameless life is old age.
10 Because he pleased God well, he was loved by him,
And while living among sinners he was taken up.
11 He was caught up, so that wickedness might not alter his 
understanding,
12 Or guile deceive his soul.
For the spell of wickedness obscures what is good,
And the instability of desire perverts the innocent mind. 
13 Being perfected in a little while he has fulfilled long years,
14 For his soul pleased the Lord;
Therefore he hurried from the midst of wickedness.
The peoples saw yet did not perceive
Or take such a thing to heart,
15 For favor and mercy are with his chosen,
And he watches over his saints.
16 But an upright man who has fallen asleep will condemn
the ungodly who are still alive,
And youth that is soon perfected, the great age of the unrighteous.
17 For they see the wise man's end, 
And do not perceive what the Lord's purpose about him was, 
And for what he kept him safe;
18 They see, and make light of him;
But the Lord will laugh them to scorn.
19 And afterward they will become a dishonored corpse,
And be insulted among the dead forever;
He will burst them open, dumb and swollen,
And will shake them from their foundations,
And they will be utterly dried up,
And they will suffer anguish,
And the memory of them will perish.
20 They will come like cowards at the reckoning-up of their sins, 
And their transgressions will convict them to their face.