2 Maccabees 6:13–16

¹³For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished. ¹⁴For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us, ¹⁵Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us. ¹⁶And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.