1
And now I say to you, my sons, love righteousness and walk in it; For the paths of righteousness are worthy of acceptation, But the paths of unrighteousness shall suddenly be destroyed and vanish.
2
And to certain men of a generation shall the paths of violence and of death be revealed, And they shall hold themselves afar from them, And shall not follow them.
3
And now I say to you the righteous: Walk not in the paths of wickedness, nor on the paths of death, And draw not nigh to them, lest you be destroyed.
4
But seek and choose for yourselves righteousness and an elect life, And walk in the paths of peace, And you shall live and prosper.
5
And hold fast my words in the thoughts of your hearts, And suffer them not to be effaced from your hearts; For know that sinners will tempt men to mistreat wisdom, So that no place may be found for her, And no manner of temptation may diminish.
6
Woe to those who build unrighteousness and oppression, And lay deceit as a foundation; For they shall be suddenly overthrown, And they shall have no peace.
7
Woe to those who build their houses with sin; For from all their foundations shall they be overthrown, And by the sword shall they fall. [And those who acquire gold and silver in judgement suddenly shall perish.]
8
Woe to you, you rich, for you have trusted in your riches, And from your riches shall you depart, Because you have not remembered the El Elyon in the days of your riches.
9
You have committed blasphemy and unrighteousness, And have become ready for the day of slaughter, And the day of darkness and the day of the great judgement.
10
Thus I speak and declare to you: He who has created you will overthrow you, And for your fall there shall be no compassion, And your Creator will rejoice at your destruction.
11
And your righteous ones in those days shall be A reproach to the sinners and the irreverent.