Wisdom of Solomon 3
3
The Future of Those Who Please God
1The souls of those
who have pleased God
are safe in his hands
and protected from pain.
2 #
Ws 4.17. Only in the minds of the foolish
are those people dead
and their death considered
a disaster 3or a destruction.
In fact, they are at peace
4and destined never to die,
though others may have thought
they were being punished.
5 #
Ro 8.18; 2 Co 4.17. They will be richly rewarded,
because God tested them
for a while
and found them worthy
of being his children.
6God tested them like gold
in a fiery furnace,
and he accepted them
like a pleasing sacrifice.
7When God shows them mercy,
they will be like shining sparks
setting weeds on fire.
8The Lord will rule them forever
and let them rule over nations.
9All of God's faithful people
will understand truth
and live with him in love,
because God is kind and merciful
to those he chooses
to be his holy people.#3.9 to those … people: One possible meaning for the difficult Greek text.
Punishment for the Wicked
10The wicked will be punished,
as their evil thoughts deserve.
They rebelled against the Lord
and abused his people.
11They are terribly miserable,
because they reject wisdom
and sound advice.
Their future is hopeless,
and everything they do
is completely useless.
12Their wives are foolish;
their children are evil
13and under God's curse.
God Blesses the Needy
A wife who remains faithful
will be given children
at a time that God decides.
14Men who remain faithful to God
and do good deeds
will receive special blessings
and be given honored positions
in the temple of the Lord,
even though they may be unable
to have children.
15Remember that good deeds
are easily recognized—
they are like fruit on a vine
that has wisdom as its roots.
16But children born to persons
who have committed
some terrible sexual sin#3.16 some terrible sexual sin: This probably refers to the laws about the wrong kind of marriages that are forbidden in Leviticus 18.6-18, though it would possibly include unfaithfulness in marriage as well.
will die before they grow up.
17Even if they live a long time,
they won't be respected.
18And if they die in their youth,
they will be without hope
on the day of judgment,
19because misery is the reward
for doing evil.
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Wisdom of Solomon 3: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.