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1Living right is better[#Si 16.3.]
than having children—
both God and people
will always remember you
and the good you have done.
2People imitate goodness,[#4.2 Some manuscripts “honor.”]
and they miss it
when it is gone.
Goodness always triumphs;
it receives the highest honors
because it is unselfish.
3But all of the many children
born to sinners
will be useless and helpless
like trees without roots.
4They may blossom for a while,
but they will be swept away
in a gust of wind.
5Their branches will be broken
before they mature,
and the fruit they produce
will be worthless.
6When God judges the world,
these children will be witnesses
against their sinful parents.
7Good people may die early,
but they will be at rest.
8True respect isn't gained
merely by growing old—
9people are honored because of
their wisdom and goodness.
10Enoch, a person God loved[#Gn 5.21-24; Si 44.16; He 11.5.]
and who pleased him,
was living among sinners.
But God took him away
11to protect his mind and soul
from the influence of evil.
12Even the most innocent person
can be deceived and destroyed
by sinful thoughts.
13But Enoch loved the Lord;
he became mature in a few years
14and pleased the Lord.
So he quickly took Enoch away
to protect him from evil.
15Others failed to understand
that this is how
God shows kindness and mercy
and protects his holy people.
16Good people may die young,
but they shame those sinners
who live a long time.
17Sinners fail to understand
why God gives them a long life
and lets the wise die young.
18When they see this happen,
they simply sneer.
But God will laugh at them
because their dead bodies
will be forever disgusting
to the rest of the dead.
19God will throw them speechless
to the ground, and they will be
like buildings that crumble.
They will suffer and rot,
then be forgotten.
20Sinners will be horrified
when they are condemned
by their evil deeds.