The Wisdom of Solomon
Chapter 9
1. Then the unbelievers will say
as they reason with themselves
yet not correctly:
“Our life is short and tiresome
and when a human dies
there is no remedy
nor has there been anyone
known to return from death.
2. “For we are all born
as an experience
and we will therefore
live as though we never existed
because the air in our lungs
is like smoke sparked
from the movement of our heart.
3. “Then after being pushed out
our body will turn to ashes
and our spirit will vanish
like a breeze in the air.
4. “We will be forgotten in time
no one will remember our deeds
and we will pass away
just as the trace of a cloud
to be dispersed as moisture
and evaporated by sun beams
that accompany its heat.
5. “Our days are like a passing shadow
from which there is no return
for it is quickly gone
so no one can come again.
6. “So let’s just move along
and enjoy the good things in life
and quickly do was we did as kids.
7. “Let’s fill ourselves up
on expensive wines and incense
leaving no spring flowers untouched.
8. “Let’s adorn ourselves
with bouquets of roses
before they become withered.
9. “We will continue our vanity
and leave behind everywhere
tokens of our desires
for this is our condition
and this is our allotment.
10. “We oppress the innocent poor
and we won’t spare the widows
nor will we honor the elderly.
11. “Our strength will be the law
otherwise there is no worth in weakness.
12. “Therefore we will lie in wait
for those who are righteous
for they look out for us not
and clean up despite our activities.
But they challenged us
and offended our laws
and objected to our positions
disregarding our education.
13. “They profess a knowledge of God
calling themselves servants of the Almighty.
14. “They were created
to criticize our thinking.
15. “They are hard to look at
for their life is not like others
and their ways are different.
16. “We honor them as impersonators
they avoid us like we are dirty
and predict the demise of the just
just to become blessed
boasting that God is their Creator.
17. “Let us see if their words are honest
and we will see what will happen
when their end arrives.
18. “For if a just person
is the servant of God
He will help them
and deliver them
from the hands of their enemies.
19. “Let’s watch them carefully
so we can understand their humility
and see how long they will last.
19. “Let’s punish them
with a shameful death
for their words will honor Him.”
21. These are what they imagined
but they were deceived
for their wickedness blinded them.
20. For they knew not
the mysteries of God
nor did they wish
for righteous work
nor did they seek
the consequences of innocence.
23. For God created souls as immortal
and He made them in His image
for all of eternity.
24. But from self-centered envy
entered death into the universe
and those who take hold of it
will indeed find it.
