Ecclesiasticus, 16

1. Do not long for a brood of worthless children, and take no joy in godless sons.

2. However many you have, do not rejoice in them if they have no fear of God.

3. Do not depend on their having a long life, or trust in their number, because one is better than a thousand and their death is preferable to their being godless.

4. A city can arise from one man who is prudent. Yet, even though the wicked become a great tribe, they will be destroyed.

5. I have seen such things with my own eyes and my ears have heard of still greater things.

6. Fire has come upon the meeting of sinners and God's wrath is kindled against rebellious people.

7. God did not pardon the leaders of old who rebelled in their pride of strength.

8. He did not spare the city where Lot lived; he detested their pride.

9. He showed no pity on the people doomed to destruction; they were annihilated for their sins.

10. In the same way, he dealt with the six hundred thousand men who, in the hardness of their hearts, had revolted.

11. Had there been only one stubborn man it would have been amazing if he had escaped unpunished, since mercy and anger belong to the Lord who is powerful both in forgiveness and in punishment.

12. His justice is as great as his mercy and he judges men by their deeds.

13. Just as the sinner will not escape with his booty, the patience of the upright man will not go unrewarded.

14. God will reward every act of mercy; each person will be treated according to his deeds.

17. Do not say, "I will hide from the Lord; who will remember me up there? I will not be recognized in the midst of so many. What am I in the immensity of creation?"

18. Look: the sky and the heavens above the sky, the sea and the earth tremble when he comes.

19. The mountains, together with the foundations of the earth, are filled with dread before his sight.

20. But nobody thinks of such things: who is interested in the ways of God?

21. Most of his works go unnoticed and man does not see where the storm originates.

22. "Who tells us of the interventions of God? Who expects them? The Covenant is far away."

23. Such are the thoughts of the man of little sense, the foolish, dissolute man who loves his illusions.

24. Listen to me, my sons; acquire knowledge and apply your heart to my words.

25. I will expound the teaching step by step and impart knowledge carefully.

26. God created his works from the beginning and, as he made them, he assigned to each its place.

27. He arranged them for all time, their beginning and their unfolding. They do not hunger or grow weary and they never cease from their duties.

28. Not one has collided with its neighbor; they will never disobey his commands.

29. Afterwards, the Lord looked down on the earth and filled it with his riches.

30. He covered its surface with all kinds of living things which must return to it.