Death and Its Remembrance

1 Death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions, to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things, and who still has strength to enjoy food! 2 Death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength, who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things,⁠a is ill-tempered, and has lost patience! 3 Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death. Remember those who lived before you and who come after. This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh. 4 And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about life in Hades.

A Name That Endures

5 The children of sinners are detestable children and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.⁠b 6 The inheritance of sinners’ children will disappear and with their descendants will be a perpetual disgrace. 7 Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they suffer disgrace because of him. 8 How terrible for you, ungodly men, who have abandoned the law of the Most High God!⁠c 9 If you are born, you will be born to a curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion. 10 All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth, so the ungodly will go from a curse to destruction. 11 The mourning of men is about their bodies, but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out. 12 Take care of your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.⁠d 13 A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever.

The Right Grounds for Shame

14 My children, follow instruction in peace. But what use are hidden wisdom and a treasure that cannot be seen? 15 A man who hides his foolishness is better than a man who hides his wisdom. 16 Therefore show respect for my words, for it is not good to retain every kind of shame. Not everything is approved by all in good faith. 17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, of a lie before a prince and a powerful man, 18 of an offense before a judge and ruler, of wrongdoing before the congregation and the people, of unjust dealing before a partner and friend, 19 and of theft in the place where you stay. Be ashamed of breaking God’s truth and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner, of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking, 20 of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute, 21 of turning away your face from a relative, of taking away a portion or a gift, of gazing at a woman who has a husband, 22 of meddling with his female servant, and don’t come near her bed, of abusive speech to friends, and after you have given, don’t insult,