King Solomon - Wisdom of Solomon (Wis. 2) lyrics

[1] For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, and no one has been known to return from Hades. [2] Because we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been; because the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts. [3] When it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. [4] Our name will be forgotten in time and no one will remember our works; our life will pa** away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. [5] For our allotted time is the pa**ing of a shadow, and there is no return from our d**h, because it is sealed up and no one turns back. [6] "Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. [7] Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pa** by us. [8] Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. [9] Let none of us fail to share in our revelry, everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, because this is our portion, and this our lot. [10] Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow nor regard the gray hairs of the aged. [11] But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. [12] "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. [13] He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. [14] He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; [15] the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. [16] We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. [17] Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; [18] for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. [19] Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. [20] Let us condemn him to a shameful d**h, for, according to what he says, he will be protected." [21] Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, [22] and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls; [23] for God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity, [24] but through the devil's envy d**h entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it.