1   For the vngodly say, as they falsly imagine with themselues, ^note Our life is short & tedious: and in the death of a man there is no recouerie, neither was any knowen that hath returned from the graue.

2   For we are borne at all aduenture, and we shall be hereafter as though we had neuer bene: for the breath is a smoke in our nostrels, & the wordes as a sparke raised out of our heart,

3   Which being extinguished, the body is turned into ashes, and the Spirite vanisheth as the soft ayre.

4   Our life shall passe away as the trace of a cloude, and come to naught as the miste that is driuen away with the beames of the sunne, and cast downe with the heate thereof. Our name also shall be forgotten in time, and no man shall haue our workes in remembrance.

5    ^noteFor our time is as a shadow that passeth away, and after our ende there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no man commeth againe.

6    ^noteCome therefore, and let vs enioy the pleasures, that are present, and let vs cheerefully vse the creatures as in youth.

7   Let vs fill our selues with costly wine & ointments, & let not the floure of life passe by vs.

8   Let vs crowne our selues with rose buds afore they be withered.

9   Let vs all be partakers of our wantonnes: let vs leaue some token of our pleasure in euery place: for that is our portion, and this is our lot.

10   Let vs oppresse the poore that is righteous: let vs not spare the widdow, nor reuerence þe; white heares of the aged, that haue liued many yeeres.

11   Let our strength be the lawe of vnrighteousnes: for the thing that is feeble, is reprooued as vnprofitable.

12   Therefore let vs defraude the righteous: for he is not for our profite, and he is contrary to our doings: hee checketh vs for offending against the Law, and blameth vs as transgressers of discipline.

13   He maketh his boast to haue the knowledge of God: & he calleth himselfe the sonne of þe; Lord.

14   He is made ^note to reprooue our thoughtes.

15   It grieueth vs also to looke ^note vpon him: for his life is not like other mens: his wayes are of another fashion.

16   He counteth vs as bastards, and hee withdraweth himselfe from our wayes as from filthines: he commendeth greatly the latter end of the iust, and boasteth that God is his father.

17   Let vs see then if his wordes be true: let vs prooue what ende he shall haue.

18   For if the righteous man be the ^note sonne of God, hee wil helpe him, and deliuer him from the hands of his enemies.

19   Let vs ^note examine him with rebukes and torments that we may know his meekenes, & prooue his patience.

20   Let vs condemne him vnto a shamefull death: for he shalbe preserued as he himselfe sayth.

21   Such things doe they imagine, and go astray: for their owne wickednes hath blinded them.

22   And they doe not vnderstand the mysteries of God, neither hope for the reward of righteousnes, nor can discerne the honour of the soules that are faultles.

23   For God created man without corruption, and made him after the ^note image of his owne likenes.

24    ^noteNeuertheles, thorowe enuie of the deuill came death into the world: and they that holde of his side, prooue it.

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