1 Their foolish minds lead themto say to each other:“Life is short and sad—the end is certain to come,and no one escapes the grave.
2 Only by chance were we born,and after we are gone,everything will beas though we had never been.Our breath is merely smoke,and reason is a sparkfrom the beat of our hearts.
3 When that beating ends,our bodies turn to dust,and our spirits vanishinto thin air.
4 In time we will be forgottenand so will our deeds.Life disappears like a cloud;it melts away like mistin the heat of the sun.
5 Time fades away like a shadow,and no one returns from death.
6 “So make the most of life,especially while you're young.
7 Drink the very best wine,wear expensive perfume,and enjoy the spring flowers.
8 Decorate your head with rosebudsbefore they wilt.
9 Do your share of celebrating!Party always and everywhere—that's what life is all about.
10 Abuse the poor and the honest!And do the same to widowsand old people.
11 After all, might is right,and weakness is useless.
12 “Destroy law-abiding people!Get them out of the way.All they do is condemn youfor breaking the law and doingwhat we know is wrong.
13 They claim to know the Lord Godand to be his children.
14 That's why they criticizeyour very thoughts.
15 “Just looking at good peopleis a heavy burden—their lifestyle is so different;in fact, it's strange.
16 They think you're trash,and they won't have anythingto do with you.They claim God is their Fatherand that he will reward them.
17 “So test what they sayby watching them die.
18 If those so-called good peoplereally are God's children,he will look after them.
19 We will insult and torture themto find out how gentleand patient they are.
20 We will sentence themto a shameful death—after all, they have saidthat they will be protected.”
21 That's the reasoning of thosewho are evil, and they areboth blind and foolish.
22 They don't understandwhat God has in mind,and they don't know the rewardfor living right.
23 God created us to live forever,just as he himself does.
24 But death entered the worldbecause the devil was jealous,and so all his followers die.