III. But the souls of the righteous are ain the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. 2 In the sight of bthe unwise they seemed to die: and their cdeparture is taken for misery, 3 and their going from us to be dutter destruction: but they are in peace. 4 For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their ehope full of immortality. 5 And fhaving been a little chastised, they shall be greatly * rewarded: for gGod proved them, and found them * worthy for himself. 6 hAs gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. 7 And in the time of their ivisitation kthey shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. 8 lThey shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and mtheir Lord shall reign for ever. 9 They that put their trust in him nshall understand the truth: * and such as be faithful in love shall oabide with him: for pgrace and mercy is to his saints, pand he hath icare for his qelect. 10 But rthe ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.

11 For whoso sdespiseth wisdom and nurture, he is miserable, and their hope is vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works unprofitable: 12 their wives are * foolish, and their children wicked: 13 their offspring is cursed. Wherefore blessed is the barren that is tundefiled, which hath not known the sinful tbed: ushe shall have fruit in the ivisitation of souls. 14 And blessed is uthe eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given * the special gift of faith, and an inheritance * in uthe temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind. 15 For glorious is the fruit of good labours: and vthe root of wisdom shall never fall away. 16 As for wthe children of adulterers, xthey shall not * come to their perfection, and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out. 17 For though they live long, yet shall they be nothing regarded: and their last age shall be without honour. 18 Or, if they die quickly, ythey have no hope, neither zcomfort in the day of * trial. 19 For horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation.