1 But the soules of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

2 In the sight of the vnwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

3 And their going from vs to be vtter destruction: but they are in peace.

4 For though they bee punished in the sight of men: yet is their hope full of immortalitie.

5 And hauing bene a little chastised, they shalbe greatly rewarded: for God proued them, and found them worthy for himselfe.

6 As gold in the furnace hath hee tried them, and receiued them as a burnt offering.

7 And in the time of their visitation, they shall shine and runne to and fro, like sparkes among the stubble.

8 They shall iudge the nations, and haue dominion ouer the people, and their Lord shall raigne for euer.

9 They that put their trust in him, shall vnderstand the trueth: and such as be faithfull in loue, shall abide with him: for grace & mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

10 But the vngodly shalbe punished according to their owne imaginations, which haue neglected the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.

11 For who so despiseth wisedome, and nurture, he is miserable, and their hope is vaine, their labours vnfruitfull, and their works vnprofitable.

12 Their wiues are foolish, and their children wicked.

13 Their of-spring is cursed: wherefore blessed is the barren that is vndefiled, which hath not knowen the sinfull bed: she shall haue fruit in the visitation of soules.

14 And blessed is the Eunuch which with his hands hath wrought no iniquitie: nor imagined wicked things against God: for vnto him shall be giuen the speciall gift of faith, and an inheritance in the Temple of the Lord more acceptable to his minde.

15 For glorious is the fruit of good labours: and the root of wisedom shall neuer fall away.

16 As for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to their perfection, and the seed of an vnrighteous bed shal be rooted out.

17 For though they liue long, yet shall they bee nothing regarded: and their last age shall be without honour.

18 Or if they die quickly, they haue no hope, neither comfort in the day of triall.

19 For horrible is the end of the vnrighteous generation.