Wisdom of Solomon 16

Therefore ^aby the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented. ²Instead of which punishment, ^aadealing graciously with thine own people, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste, even ^bquails to stir up their appetite: ³to the end that they, desiring food, might ^cfor the ugly sight of the beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must needs desire; but these, suffering penury ⁿfor a short space, might be made partakers of a strange taste. ⁴For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should come penury, ^dwhich they could not avoid: but to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented. ⁵For when ^ethe horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and ^fthey perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured not for ever: ⁶but they were troubled ⁿfor a small season, that they might be admonished, ^ghaving a sign of salvation, ^mto put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. ⁷For he that turned himself towards it was not saved by the thing that he saw, ^hbut by thee, that art ⁱthe Saviour of all. ⁸And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil: ⁹for them the bitings of ^jgrasshoppers and ^kflies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: ^lfor they were worthy to be punished by such. ¹⁰But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them. ¹¹For they were pricked, ^mthat they should remember thy words; and were ⁿquickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness. ¹²For it was neither herb, nor ^omollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but ^pthy word, O Lord, which healeth all things. ^13qFor thou hast power of life and death: ^rthou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.

^14sA man indeed killeth through his malice: and ^tthe spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again. ^15sBut it is not possible to escape thine hand. ¹⁶For the ungodly, ^uthat denied to know thee, were scourged ^vby the strength of thine arm: ^wwith strange rains, hails, and showers, were they persecuted, ^dthat they could not avoid, and ^wthrough fire were they consumed. ¹⁷For, which is most to be wondered at, ^xthe fire had more force in the water, that quencheth all things: for ^ythe world fighteth for the righteous. ¹⁸For sometimes the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up ^zthe beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves might see and perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of God. ¹⁹And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above the power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an unjust land. ²⁰Instead whereof ^athou feddest thine own people with ^bangels’ food, and didst send them ^cfrom heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man’s delight, and agreeing to every taste. ²¹For thy ^dsustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking. ^22eBut snow and ^gice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know ^wxthat fire burning in the hail, and ^wsparkling in the rain, ^fdid destroy the fruits of the enemies. ²³But ^gthis again did even forget his own strength, that ^hthe righteous might be nourished. ²⁴ⁱFor the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker, increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee. ²⁵Therefore even then ⁱwas it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need: ²⁶that thy children, O Lord, ^jwhom thou lovest, ^kmight know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee. ²⁷For that which was not destroyed of the fire, ^lbeing warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away: ²⁸that it might be known, that ^mwe must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring ⁿpray unto thee. ²⁹For the hope of ^othe unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.

XVII.