13 They claim to know God, and they call themselves the Lord's children.
14 We can't stand the sight of people like that; what they are contradicts our whole way of thinking.
15 They are not like other people; they have strange ways.
16 They think that our moral standards are so corrupt that everything we do should be avoided. They boast of having God for their Father, and believe that only the righteous will die happy.
17 But we'll see if that's true! Let's see what will happen when it's time for them to die!
18 If the righteous really are God's children, God will save them from their enemies.
19 So let's put them to the test. We'll be cruel to them, and torment them; then we'll find out how calm and reasonable they are! We'll find out just how much they can stand!