1 Living right is better

than having children--

both God and people

will always remember you

and the good you have done.

2People imitate goodness,

and they miss it

when it is gone.

Goodness always triumphs;

it receives the highest honors

because it is unselfish.

3But all of the many children

born to sinners

will be useless and helpless

like trees without roots.

4They may blossom for a while,

but they will be swept away

in a gust of wind.

5Their branches will be broken

before they mature,

and the fruit they produce

will be worthless.

6When God judges the world,

these children will be witnesses

against their sinful parents.

7Good people may die early,

but they will be at rest.

8True respect isn't gained

merely by growing old--

9people are honored because of

their wisdom and goodness.

10 Enoch, a person God loved

and who pleased him,

was living among sinners.

But God took him away

11to protect his mind and soul

from the influence of evil.

12Even the most innocent person

can be deceived and destroyed

by sinful thoughts.

13But Enoch loved the Lord;

he became mature in a few years

14and pleased the Lord.

So he quickly took Enoch away

to protect him from evil.

15Others failed to understand

that this is how

God shows kindness and mercy

and protects his holy people.

Good People Will Triumph

16Good people may die young,

but they shame those sinners

who live a long time.

17Sinners fail to understand

why God gives them a long life

and lets the wise die young.

18When they see this happen,

they simply sneer.

But God will laugh at them

because their dead bodies

will be forever disgusting

to the rest of the dead.

19God will throw them speechless

to the ground, and they will be

like buildings that crumble.

They will suffer and rot,

then be forgotten.

The Final Judgment

20Sinners will be horrified

when they are condemned

by their evil deeds.