The Wisdom of Solomon
Chapter 2
1. They reason with themselves
and will say incorrectly:
“Life is short and difficult
and the end of a lifetime
brings no healing
and no one has ever been known
to
have returned from hell.
2. “For we are born from nothing
and after this we will not exist
and the breath in our nostrils is smoke
and speech is only a spark
to
stir our emotions.
3. “Once all is exhausted
our body will turn to ashes
and our spirit will pour out
into the surroundings like air.
And our life will pass
like the form of a cloud
and shall scatter like mist
dissolved by sunbeams
and evaporated by its heat.
4. “In time our names will be forgotten
and no one will remember our deeds.
5. “Because our time passes
just like a shadow
and there is no going back for us.
It is quickly shut down
and no one will return.
6. “Come therefore and we’ll enjoy
the good things that are present
and let us quickly use
those around us as we did
when we were young.
7. “Let us fill ourselves
with expensive wines
and luxurious ointments
and we’ll not let
the flower of time pass us by.
8. “Let us crown ourselves
with roses before they wither
and we’ll not let any land
be absent of our parties.
9. “Let no one be without luxury
and let us savor
our moments of joy
for this is our portion
and
this is our lot.
10. “Let us oppress the poor
nor will we spare the widows
nor honor the ancients
nor the graying hairs of the aged.
11. “But let our strength
be the rule of law
and that which is feeble
will be worth nothing.
12. “Let us therefore lie in wait
because those who are devoted
don’t help our cause.
They oppose our deeds
and burden us down
with the heavy consequences
of our transgressions
and oppose the wickedness
of our way of life.
13. “They brag they know God
and call themselves God’s servant.
14. “And now they censor our thoughts.
15. “They are angry at us
and yet looking at them
their life is not like others
and
their ways are very different.
16. “They call us good for nothing
and detest our filthiness.
Yet they prefer consequences of justice
and glorify in God their Creator.
17. “Let’s see if their words are true
and let’s see what happens to them.
Then we will know
how it ends for them.
18. “For if they are the true servants of God
He will defend them
and
will deliver them
from the hands of their enemies.
19. “Let’s judge them
by his outrages and impunity
so we may know their humility
and
try their patience.
20. “Let’s condemn them
to a most shameful death
given the respect awarded to them
through their words.”
21. They thought these things
and they were deceived.
They were blinded
by their own malice.
22. Yet they didn’t know
about God’s mysteries.
Nor did they hope for justice
or honor those holy souls.
23. For God created humans
to be trustworthy
and in His image
He made them.
24. But through the wickedness of envy
destruction entered the world.
25. But those who follow Him
are with Him.
