2. O death! How welcome is your sentenceto the weak, failing in strength,Stumbling and tripping on everything,with sight gone and hope lost.
3. Do not fear death’s decree for you;remember, it embraces those before you and those to come.
4. This decree for all flesh is from God;why then should you reject a law of the Most High?Whether one has lived a thousand years, a hundred, or ten,in Sheol there are no arguments about life.
5. The children of sinners are a reprobate line,and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.
6. The inheritance of children of sinners will perish,and on their offspring will be perpetual disgrace.
7. Children curse their wicked father,for they suffer disgrace because of him.
8. Woe to you, O wicked people,who forsake the Law of the Most High.
9. If you have children, calamity will be theirs;and if you beget them, it will be only for groaning.When you stumble, there is lasting joy;and when you die, you become a curse.
14b. Hidden wisdom and concealed treasure,of what value is either?
15. Better is the person who hides his follythan the one who hides his wisdom.
14a. My children, listen to instruction about shame;
16a. judge of disgrace according to my rules,
16b. Not every kind of shame is shameful,nor is every kind of disgrace to be recognized.
17. Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality,before prince and ruler, of falsehood;
18. Before master and mistress, of deceit;before the public assembly, of crime;Before associate and friend, of disloyalty,
19. and in the place where you settle, of theft.Be ashamed of breaking an oath or a covenant,and of stretching your elbow at dinner;Of refusing to give when asked,