1 Don’t wish for a multitudeof worthless children,and don’t be glad about sons and daughters if they are ungodly.
2 If they have children,don’t rejoice over themunless they respect the Lord.
3 Don’t be confident that they will live,and don’t rely on their great number.One is better than a thousand,and it’s better to die childlessthan to have ungodly children.
4 A city will be populatedthrough one intelligent person,but a tribe of lawless peoplecan transform it into a desert.
5 My eye has seen many such things,and my ear has heard more extraordinary matters than these.
6 A fire will be kindledin an assembly of sinners,and wrath will flash forthin a disobedient nation.
7 The Lord didn’t seek reconciliationwith the ancient giantswho rebelled in their might.
8 He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors,whom he detestedbecause of their arrogance.
9 He showed no mercy on a nationdoomed to destruction,on people who were driven offbecause of their sins.
10 So also he showed no mercyto the six hundred thousandfoot soldierswho gathered togetherin their stubbornness.
11 Even if there was onestiff-necked person,it would be amazingif that one would go unpunished,because mercy and wrath are with him,the Lord who reconcilesand who pours out wrath.
12 His scrutiny is as severeas his mercy is abundant;he will judge peopleaccording to their deeds.
13 A sinner won’t escape with plunder,and the endurance of the godlywill never fail.
14 He will make allowancefor every act of charity;everyone will receive their just reward.
17 Don’t say, "I’ll be hidden from the Lord,"and "Who from on highwill call me to mind?Among a great many people,I’ll never be recognized;for what am I in such a vast creation?
18 Look at the heavens,indeed the highest heavens;the abyss and the earthwill tremble at the Lord’s visitation.
19 All at once the mountainsand the foundations of the earthwill shake together, quaking,when he looks upon them.
20 The mind cannot even thinkabout these things.Who can ponder his ways?
21 Most of his deeds are hiddenlike a hurricane that no one can see.
22 Who will announce just actions?Or who will endure,since God’s covenant is far off?"
23 Those who lack sense think this way;a foolish and misguided personthinks foolish things.
24 Listen to me, my child: gain knowledgeand apply your mind to my words.
25 I will disclose instruction accurately,and with precisionI will declare knowledge.
26 The Lord’s works in creationexisted from the beginning,and he defined their exact stationswhen he made them.
27 He set their works in order forever,and arranged their spheres of authorityfor as long as they last.They have never gotten hungryor grown weary,and they have neverabandoned their tasks.
28 None of them crowd out their neighbor,and none will ever disobey his word.
29 Afterward, the Lord looked at the earthand filled it with his good things.
30 He covered its surfacewith every living being,and they return into it.