1Better is barennes with vertue: for the memoriall thereof is immortall: for it is knowen with God and with men. 2When it is present, men take example thereat, and if it goe away, yet they desire it: it is alway crowned and triumpheth, and winneth the battell and the vndefiled rewardes. 3But the multitude of the vngodly which abound in children, is vnprofitable: and the bastard plants shall take no deepe roote, nor lay any fast foundation. 4For though they bud foorth in the branches for a time, yet they shalbe shaken with the winde: for they stand not fast, and through the vehemencie of the winde they shalbe rooted out. 5For the vnperfect branches shalbe broken, and their fruite shalbe vnprofitable and sowre to eate, and meete for nothing. 6For all the children that are borne of the wicked bed, shalbe witnes of the wickednes against their parents when they be asked. 7But though the righteous be preuented with death, yet shall he be in rest. 8For the honourable age is not that which is of long time, neither that which is measured by the number of yeeres. 9But wisdome is the gray heare, and an vndefiled life is the olde age. 10He pleased God, and was beloued of him, so that where as he liued among sinners, he translated him. 11He was taken away, least wickednesse shouldalter his vnderstanding, or deceit beguile his minde. 12For wickednes by bewitching obscureth the thinges that are good, and the vnstedfastnesse of concupiscence peruerteth the simple minde. 13Though he was soone dead, yet fulfilled hee much time. 14For his soule pleased God: therefore hasted he to take him away from wickednes. 15Yet the people see and vnderstand it not, and consider no such things in their heartes, howe that grace and mercie is vpon his Saintes, and his prouidence ouer the elect. 16Thus the righteous that is dead, condemneth the vngodly which are liuing: and the youth that is soone brought to an ende, the long life of the vnrighteous. 17For they see the ende of the wise, but they vnderstand not what God hath deuised for him, and wherefore the Lord hath preserued him in safetie. 18They see him and despise him, but the Lorde wil laugh them to scorne, 19So that they shall fall hereafter without honour, and shall haue a shame among the dead for euermore: for without any voice shal he burst them and cast them downe, & shake them from the fundations, so that they shalbe vtterly wasted, and they shalbe in sorow, and their memoriall shall perish. 20So they being afraide, shall remember their sinnes, and their owne wickednes shall come before them to conuince them.