1O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that is at peace in his possessions, Unto the man that hath nothing to distract him, and hath prosperity in all things, And that still hath strength to receive meat!
2O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto a man that is needy, and that faileth in strength, That is in extreme old age, and is distracted about all things, And is perverse, and hath lost patience!
3Fear not the sentence of death; Remember them that have been before thee, and that come after: This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh.
4And why dost thou refuse, when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether it be ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, There is no inquisition of life in the grave.
5The children of sinners are abominable children, And they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.
6The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, And with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
7Children will complain of an ungodly father, Because they shall be reproached for his sake.
8Woe unto you, ungodly men, Which have forsaken the law of the Most High God!
9If ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse; If ye die, a curse shall be your portion.
10All things that are of the earth shall go back to the earth: So the ungodly shall go from a curse unto perdition.
11The mourning of men is about their bodies: But the name of sinners being evil shall be blotted out.
12Have regard to thy name; For it continueth with thee longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.
13A good life hath its number of days; And a good name continueth for ever.
14My children, keep instruction in peace: But wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, What profit is in them both?
15Better is a man that hideth his foolishness Than a man that hideth his wisdom.
16Wherefore shew reverence to my word: For it is not good to retain every kind of shame; And not all things are approved by all in good faith.
17Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: And of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;
18Of an offence before a judge and ruler; Of iniquity before the congregation and the people; Of unjust dealing before a partner and friend;
19And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, And in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; And of leaning with thine elbow at meat; And of scurrility in the matter of giving and taking;
20And of silence before them that salute thee; And of looking upon a woman that is a harlot;
21And of turning away thy face from a kinsman; Of taking away a portion or a gift; And of gazing upon a woman that hath a husband;
22Of being over busy with his maid; and come not near her bed; Of upbraiding speeches before friends; And after thou hast given, upbraid not;
23Of repeating and speaking what thou hast heard; And of revealing of secrets.
24So shalt thou be truly shamefast, And find favour in the sight of every man.