1 ¹² Do not invite death by the error of your life,
nor bring on destruction by the works of your hands;
1 ¹³ because God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.
1 ¹⁴ For he created all things that they might exist,
and the generative forces of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them;
and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.
1 ¹⁵ For righteousness is immortal.

1 ¹⁶ But ungodly men by their words and deeds summoned death;
considering him a friend, they pined away,
and they made a covenant with him,
because they are fit to belong to his party.