And now my children, I desire you to love righteousness, and to walk in it, for the paths of righteousness are worthy of being received, but the paths of iniquity shall suddenly be undone, and be diminished.
2The ways of oppression and death have been shewn to men distinguished in their generation, but they keep far from them, and follow them not.
3And now I declare to you, to the righteous, Go not in the ways of wickedness and oppression, nor in the ways of death, come not nigh them, that you may not perish, but desire,
4And choose for yourselves righteousness, and a pleasant life.
5And go in the ways of peace, that ye may live, and be found worthy; retain my words in the thoughts of your hearts, and destroy them not from your hearts, for I know that sinners cause men to execute wicked deceit. They will not come to every place, nor is every consultation diminished by them.
6Wo to them who build up wickedness, and oppression, and who lay the foundation of deceit, for they shall be suddenly overthrown, and to them there shall be no peace.
7Wo to them who build up their houses with sin, for from their foundations they shall be overthrown, and they shall fall by the sword. And they who possess gold and silver gotten by injustice shall suddenly perish in judgment. Wo to you who are rich, for upon your riches you have confided, but from your riches you shall be removed, because you have not remembered the Most High in the days of your riches.
8You have committed blasphemy, and wickedness, and are prepared for the day of the shedding of blood, to the day of darkness, and to the day of the great judgment.
9This I declare and point out to you, that he who created you will destroy you.
10And over your fall there will be no compassion, but your creator will rejoice at your destruction.
11And in those days your righteous shall be a disgrace to sinners and to the ungodly.