The Book of Wisdom
Chapter 3, Verses 1 through 8


But the sons of the just are in the hand
of God,
            And no torment shall touch them.

They seemed, in the view of the foolish,
To be dead;
And their passing away was thought
An affliction
And their going forth from us, utter
Destruction.
But they are in peace.

For if before men, indeed, they be
Punished,
              Yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly
Blessed,
Because God tried them
And found them worthy of Himself.
As gold in the furnace, He proved
Them,
And as sacrificial offerings He took
Them to Himself.
In the time of their visitation they
Shall shine,
And shall dart about as sparks through
Stubble;
They shall judge nations and rule over
Peoples,
And the Lord shall be their King
Forever.