12. Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us;he opposes our actions,Reproaches us for transgressions of the lawand charges us with violations of our training.
13. He professes to have knowledge of Godand styles himself a child of the Lord.
14. To us he is the censure of our thoughts;merely to see him is a hardship for us,
15. Because his life is not like that of others,and different are his ways.
16. He judges us debased;he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.He calls blest the destiny of the righteousand boasts that God is his Father.
17. Let us see whether his words be true;let us find out what will happen to him in the end.
18. For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help himand deliver him from the hand of his foes.
19. With violence and torture let us put him to the testthat we may have proof of his gentlenessand try his patience.
20. Let us condemn him to a shameful death;for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”
21. These were their thoughts, but they erred;for their wickedness blinded them,
22. And they did not know the hidden counsels of God;neither did they count on a recompense for holinessnor discern the innocent souls’ reward.
23. For God formed us to be imperishable;the image of his own nature he made us.
24. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world,and they who are allied with him experience it.