It is better to have none than many wicked children. Of the justice and
mercy of God. His ways are unsearchable.
16:1. Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither
be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.
16:2. Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.
16:3. For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly
children.
16:4. And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly
children.
16:5. By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of
the ungodly shall become desolate.
16:6. Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these
my ear hath heard.
16:7. In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an
unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out.
16:8. The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were
destroyed trusting to their own strength:
16:9. And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred
them for the pride of their word.
16:10. He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that
extolled themselves in their sins.
16:11. So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were
gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been
stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:
Six hundred thousand footmen, etc.... Viz., the children of Israel,
whom he sentenced to die in the wilderness. Num. 14.
16:12. For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and
to pour out indignation:
16:13. According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man
according to his works.
16:14. The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of
him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.
16:15. All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the
merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.
16:16. Say not: I shall be hidden from God, and who shall remember me
from on high?
16:17. In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in
such an immense creation?
16:18. Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all
the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his
sight,
16:19. The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the
earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with
trembling.
16:20. And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart
is understood by him.
16:21. And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye
of man shall see?
16:22. For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice
who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from
some, and the examination of all is in the end.
16:23. He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things, and the
foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
16:24. Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of
understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.
16:25. And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to
declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity
of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from
the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.
16:26. The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and
from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their
beginnings in their generations.
16:27. He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered,
nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.
16:28. Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.
16:29. Be not thou incredulous to his word.
16:30. After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his
goods.
16:31. The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face
thereof, and into it they return again.
Shewn forth.... Viz., the glory and power of God upon the earth.