An Ungodly View of Life
Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 1. For they said among themselves, as they reasoned incorrectly: “Our life is short and painful, And there is no cure for the death of a man; For no one has been known to return from Hades; Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 2. Because we were born by chance, And after this we shall be as though we never existed; For the breath in our nostrils is smoke, And our speech is the spark kindled by the beating of our heart. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 3. When the spark is extinguished, our body will turn to ashes, And our breath will disperse like empty air. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 4. Then our name will be forgotten in due time, And no one will remember our works; So our life will pass away like the trace of a cloud And be scattered like fog, Driven away by the rays of the sun And oppressed by its heat. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 5. For our appointed time is the passing of a shadow, And there is no return from our death; Because it is sealed up, no one can turn back. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 6. Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that exist, And make the most of creation as quickly as possible, As we did in our youth. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 7. Let us be filled with expensive wine and perfumes, And let no flower of springtime pass us by. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 8. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds Before they wither away. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 9. Let none of us fail to share in our arrogance. Let us leave signs of our gladness everywhere, Because this is our portion, and this is our lot. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 10. Let us oppress the righteous poor man; Let us not spare a widow, Nor respect the aged gray hair of an old man. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 11. Let our might be our law of righteousness, For what is weak is shown to be useless.
Hatred of the Righteous
Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 12. “Let us lie in ambush for the righteous man, Because he is useless to us and opposes our deeds; He denounces us for our sins against the law And accuses us of sins against our upbringing. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 13. He claims to have knowledge of God, And he calls himself a child of the Lord. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 14. He has become for us as a refutation of our purposes; Even seeing him is a burden to us, Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 15. Because his life is unlike that of others; For his paths go in a different direction. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 16. We are considered by him as a hybrid, And he avoids our ways as something immoral. He considers the last things of the righteous as blessed And pretends that God is his Father. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 17. Let us see if his words are true, And let us put these last things to the test at the end of his life. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 18. For if the righteous man is a son of God, He will help him, And deliver him from the hand of those who oppose him. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 19. Let us test him with insult and torture That we may know his gentleness And test his patient endurance. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 20. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, For there shall be a visitation because of his words.” Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 21. So they reasoned these things And were led astray, For their malice blinded them. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 22. But they did not know the mysteries of God, Nor hope for the wages of holiness, Nor judge the reward of blameless souls. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 23. For God created man for immortality And made him an image of His own eternity. Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 24. But death entered the world by the envy of the devil, And those of his portion tempt it.