Wisdom of Solomon 18:20–25

But it befell the righteous also to experience death,

And a multitude were stricken in the wilderness:

Howbeit the wrath endured not for long.

For a blameless man hasted to be their champion:

Bringing the weapon of his ministry,

Even prayer and the propitiation of incense,

He withstood the indignation, and put an end to the calamity,

Showing that he was thy servant.

And he overcame the anger,

Not by strength of body, not by power of weapons;

But by word did he subdue the minister of punishment,

By bringing to remembrance oaths and covenants made with the fathers.

For when the dead were already fallen in heaps one upon another,

Standing between he stopped the advancing wrath,

And cut off its access to the living.

For upon his long high-priestly robe was the whole world pictured,

And the glories of the fathers were upon the graying of the four rows of precious stones,

To these the destroyer gave way, and these he feared;

For the mere proof of the wrath was enough.