O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that is at peace in his possessions,

2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto a man that is needy, and that faileth in strength,

3 Fear not the sentence of death;

4 And why dost thou refuse, when it is the good pleasure of the Most High?

5 The children of sinners are abominable children,

6 The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish,

7 Children will complain of an ungodly father,

8 Woe unto you, ungodly men,

9 If ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse;

10 All things that are of the earth shall go back to the earth:

11 The mourning of men is about their bodies:

12 Have regard to thy name;

13 A good life hath its number of days;

14 My children, keep instruction in peace:

15 Better is a man that hideth his foolishness

16 Wherefore show reverence to my word:

17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother:

18 Of an offense before a judge and ruler;

19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest,

20 And of silence before them that salute thee;

21 And of turning away thy face from a kinsman;

22 Of being over busy with his maid; and come not near her bed;

23 Of repeating and speaking what thou hast heard;

24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced,