Open English Translation WIS Chapter 5

5 Then the righteous man will stand in great boldness

before the face of those who afflicted him,

and those who make his labours of no account.

2 When they see him, they’ll be troubled with terrible fear,

and will be amazed at the marvel of salvation.

3 They’ll speak among themselves repenting,

and for distress of spirit they’ll groan,

“This was he whom we used to hold in derision,

as a parable of reproach.

4 We fools considered his life madness,

and his end without honour.

5 How was he counted among sons of God?

How is his lot among saints?

6 Truly we went astray from the way of truth.

The light of righteousness didn’t shine for us.

The sun didn’t rise for us.

7 We[fn] took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction.

We travelled through trackless deserts,

but we didn’t know the master’s way.

8 What did our arrogance profit us?

What good have riches and boasting brought us?

9 Those things all passed away as a shadow,

like a rumour that runs by,

10 like a ship passing through the billowy water,

which, when it’s gone by, there’s no trace to be found,

no pathway of its keel in the waves.

11 Or it’s like when a bird flies through the air,

no evidence of its passage is found,

but the light wind, lashed with the stroke of its pinions,

and torn apart with the violent rush of the moving wings, is passed through.

Afterwards no sign of its coming remains.

12 Or it’s like when an arrow is shot at a mark,

the air it divided closes up again immediately,

so that men don’t know where it passed through.

13 So we also, as soon as we were born, ceased to be;

and we had no sign of virtue to show,

but we were utterly consumed in our wickedness.”

14 Because the hope of the ungodly man is like chaff carried by the wind,

and[fn] as[fn] foam vanishing before a tempest;

and is scattered like smoke by the wind,

and passes by as the remembrance of a guest who stays just a day.

15 But the righteous live forever.

Their reward is in the master,

and the care for them with the Most High.

16 Therefore they’ll receive the crown of royal dignity

and the diadem of beauty from the master’s hand,

because he’ll cover them with his right hand,

and he’ll shield them with his arm.

17 He’ll take his zeal as complete armour,

and will make the whole creation his weapons to punish his enemies:

18 He’ll put on righteousness as a breastplate,

≈ and will wear impartial judgement as a helmet.

19 He’ll take holiness as an invincible shield.

20 He’ll sharpen stern anger for a sword.

The universe will go with him to fight against his frenzied foes.

21 Shafts of lightning will fly with true aim.

They’ll leap to the mark from the clouds, as from a well-drawn bow.

22 Hailstones full of anger will be hurled as from a catapult.

The water of the sea will be angered against them.

Rivers will sternly overwhelm them.

23 A mighty wind will encounter them.

It’ll winnow them away like a tempest.

So lawlessness will make all the land desolate.

Their evil-doing will overturn the thrones of princes.