4:1 纯洁的后代，是多么光辉，多么美丽!更好是无子而有道德，因为道德的记念，永存不朽，常为天主和世人所赏识。
Better is childlessness with virtue; for immortal is its memory: because both by God is it acknowledged, and by men. 4:2 有道德在，人都效法；道德不在，人都期待；道德在永远加冕奏凯，因为她在为无玷的报酬奋斗，获得了胜利。
When it is present men imitate it, and they long for it when it is gone; And forever it marches crowned in triumph, victorious in unsullied deeds of valor. 4:3 不虔敬者的子孙，虽然众多，一无所用；杂种的苗裔，扎根不深，根底不稳；
But the numerous progeny of the wicked shall be of no avail; their spurious offshoots shall not strike deep root nor take firm hold. 4:4 即使一时枝叶繁茂，但因札根不深，风一吹即摇动；暴风一发，即连根拔出；
For even though their branches flourish for a time, they are unsteady and shall be rocked by the wind and, by the violence of the winds, uprooted; 4:5 嫩枝尚未长成；即被打断；结的果实毫无益处，酸得不能吃，毫无用途。
Their twigs shall be broken off untimely, and their fruit be useless, unripe for eating, and fit for nothing. 4:6 到了审判之日，凡不合法而生的子女，将作他们父母淫行的证人。
For children born of lawless unions give evidence of the wickedness of their parents, when they are examined. 4:7 义人纵或夭折，亦必获享安息。
But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest. 4:8 因为，可敬的老年并不在于高寿，也不在于以年岁来衡量；
For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. 4:9 其实；人的老年是在于有智慧，高寿是在于生活纯洁。
Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age. 4:10 这样的人悦乐了天主，也为天主所爱，因他生活在罪人中间，所以天主把他接去。
He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported ? 4:11 他被接去，免得邪恶改变了他的心意，虚伪迷惑了他的心灵；
Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; 4:12 因为罪恶的蛊惑，使人丧失天良；情欲的风暴，毁坏纯朴的心灵。
For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind. 4:13 他在短期内成为完人，与满享高寿无异。
Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; 4:14 他的灵魂使天主悦乐，因此，天主迅速将他从邪恶之中提去。世人见了，并不明了，也不存心细想；
for his soul was pleasing to the LORD, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account. 4:15 他拣选的人，必获恩宠和仁慈；对他虔诚的人，必蒙眷顾。
NO CONTENT 4:16 死去的义人，是判定活着而不虔敬的人有罪；夭折的青年完人，是判定高寿而不义的老年人有罪。
Yes, the just man dead condemns the sinful who live, and youth swiftly completed condemns the many years of the wicked man grown old. 4:17 这般人虽然看到智慧人的结局，却不明了上主对他有什么计划，也不明了上主为什么使他平安无恙；
For they see the death of the wise man and do not understand what the LORD intended for him, or why he made him secure. 4:18 他们见了，反而嗤笑，但上主却要讥笑他们。
They see, and hold him in contempt; but the LORD laughs them to scorn. 4:19 最后，他们将成为一具卑鄙的死尸，是亡者中的永远的耻辱，因为上主要将他们打倒在地，使之俯首无言，连根拔除，彻底破坏，长处于痛苦中，永无记念存在。
And they shall afterward become dishonored corpses and an unceasing mockery among the dead. For he shall strike them down speechless and prostrate and rock them to their foundations; They shall be utterly laid waste and shall be in grief and their memory shall perish. 4:20 在清算他们的罪恶时，他们将战兢前来受审，他们的邪恶要起来作证，控告他们。
Fearful shall they come, at the counting up of their sins, and their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.