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For they said[a] within themselves, with unsound reasoning, and no one was ever known who[b] was released from Hades.
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Because we were born by mere chance,
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which being extinguished, the body will be turned into ashes,
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Our name will be forgotten in time. and[c] overcome by its heat.
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For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, because it is securely sealed, and no one[d] turns it back.
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“Come therefore and let’s enjoy the good things that exist.
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Let’s fill ourselves with costly wine and perfumes,
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Let’s crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.
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Let none of us go without his share in our proud revelry.
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Let’s oppress the righteous poor.
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But let our strength be a law of righteousness;
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But let’s lie in wait for the righteous man,
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He professes to have knowledge of God,
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He became to us a reproof of our thoughts.
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He is grievous to us even to look at,
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We were regarded by him as something worthless,
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Let’s see if his words are true.
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For if the righteous man is God’s son, he will uphold him,
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Let’s test him with insult and torture,
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Let’s condemn him to a shameful death,
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Thus they reasoned, and they were led astray;
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and they didn’t know the mysteries of God,
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Because God created man for incorruption,
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but death entered into the world by the envy of the devil,