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[1] But the soules of the ryghteous are in the hande of God, & there shal no torment touche them.
[2] In the syght of the vnwise they appeared to die, & their ende is taken for miserie,
[3] And their departyng from vs to be vtter destruction: but they are in rest.
[4] For though they suffer payne before men, yet is their hope full of immortalitie.
[5] They are punished but in few thinges, neuerthelesse in many thinges shal they be well rewarded: for God proueth the, and findeth them meete for hym selfe.
[6] As golde in the furnace doth he trye them, and receaueth them as a burnt offeryng: and when the tyme commeth they shalbe loked vpon.
[7] They shall shyne and runne through as the sparkcles among the stubble.
[8] They shal iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people: and their Lorde shall raigne for euer.
[9] They that put their trust in him shall vnderstande the trueth, and such as be faythfull shall perseuer with hym in loue: for his saintes haue grace & mercie, and he hath care for his elected.
[10] But the vngodly shalbe punished accordyng to their owne imaginations, for they haue dispised the righteous, and forsaken the Lorde.
[11] For who so dispiseth wisdome and nurture he is vnhappy, and as for the hope of such it is but vayne, their labours vnfruitfull, and their workes vnprofitable.
[12] Their wyues are vndiscrete, and their children most vngodly.
[13] Their offpryng [or progenie] is cursed: Wherfore blessed is the barren that is vndefiled, which hath not knowen the sinnefull bed, she shall haue fruite in the visitation of soules,
[14] And the gelded which with his handes hath wrought no vnrighteousnesse, nor imagined wicked thinges agaynst God: for vnto hym shalbe geuen the speciall gyft of fayth, and the most acceptable portion in the temple of God.
[15] For glorious is the fruite of good labour, and the roote of wisdome shall neuer fade away.
[16] As for the children of adulterers they shall not come to a perfect ende, and the seede of an vnryghteous bedde shalbe rooted out.
[17] And though they lyue long, yet shall they be nothyng regarded, and their last age shalbe without honour.
[18] If they dye quickly they haue no hope, neither comfort in the day of inquirie.
[19] For horrible is the ende of the vnryghteous generation.
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