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16:1  Do not desire a brood of unprofitable children, and take no joy in offspring who are godless.
16:2  No matter how many your children, do not rejoice in them unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
16:3  Do not count on their growing old or rely on their numbers. [For you will grieve in untimely mourning and know of their unexpected end.] For one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have godless children.
16:4  Through one wise man an entire city can be populated, but a tribe of lawless people can bring about its destruction.
16:5  Many such things my eyes have seen, and my ears have heard things even more impressive.
16:6  Against an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled, and retribution blazes upon a godless nation.
16:7  God did not forgive the leaders of old who rebelled in their strength.
16:8  He did not spare the neighbors of Lot whom he abhorred for their arrogance.
16:9  He showed no pity toward the doomed people who were dispossessed because of their sins. [He did all these things to the obstinate nations, and he was not appeased by the multitude of his holy ones.]
16:10  Neither did he show pity toward those six hundred thousand foot soldiers who perished because of their stubborn defiance. [Chastising and sparing, striking and healing, the Lord persisted in showing mercy and dispensing discipline.]
16:11  Even if there had been only one stiff-necked man, it would have been a miracle if he had escaped retribution. For mercy and anger alike belong to the Lord; he shows his might in his forgiveness and also as he pours out his wrath.
16:12  As great as his mercy is his chastisement; he judges an individual according to his deeds.
16:13  The sinner will not escape with plunder, nor will the patience of the godly be forgotten.
16:14  He does not forget any act of mercy; everyone will be treated in accordance with his deeds.
16:15  [ The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he did not recognize him whose works were manifest under the heavens;
16:16  his mercy was seen by all creation, and he separated the light from the darkness among the sons of Adam.]
16:17  Do not say, “I am hidden from the Lord; who above gives any thought to me? Among so many people I will not be noticed; for what am I in the immensity of creation?
16:18  Behold, heaven itself, the highest heaven, the abyss, and the earth tremble at his visitation. [The entire world, past and present, is in his will.]
16:19  The mountains and the foundations of the earth quiver and quake when he looks upon them.
16:20  What human mind can grasp this or comprehend his ways?
16:21  Like a storm wind that is invisible, so his works for the most part are concealed.
16:22  Who will report about his acts of justice? Or who can wait for them, since the covenant is far in the future [and a scrutiny for all comes at the end]?”
16:23  Such are the thoughts of the one who lacks understanding, senseless and misguided in his foolish reasoning.
16:24  Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge; pay close attention to what I have to say.
16:25  I will impart discipline precisely and proclaim knowledge accurately.
16:26  When God created his works in the beginning, in doing so he determined their boundaries.
16:27  He defined their functions for all time and their domains for all generations. They never hunger or grow weary, nor do they ever abandon their tasks.
16:28  Never do they crowd one another, nor do they ever disobey his word.
16:29  Then the Lord looked upon the earth and filled it with his good things.
16:30  With every kind of living creature he covered its surface, and into it they must return.