XVIII. aNevertheless thy hsaints had a very great light, whose voice they bhearing, and not seeing their shape, because they also had not suffered the same things, they counted them happy. 2 But for that they did not hurt them now, of whom they had been wronged before, they thanked them, and besought them pardon for that they chad been enemies. 3 Instead whereof dthou gavest them a burning pillar of fire, both to be a guide of the unknown journey, and a eharmless sun to entertain them honourably. 4 fFor they were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who had kept thy sons shut up, by whom the * uncorrupt light of the law was to be given unto the world.

5 And gwhen they had determined to slay the babes of hthe saints, ione child being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, kthou tookest away the multitude of their children, and ldestroyedst them altogether in a mighty water. 6 mOf that night were our fathers certified afore, that nassuredly knowing ounto what oaths they had given credence, they might afterwards be of good cheer. 7 So of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous, and destruction of the enemies. 8 For pwherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, qby the same thou didst glorify us, whom thou hadst called. 9 For the hrighteous children of good men rdid sacrifice ssecretly, and with one consent made * a holy law, that the saints should be alike partakers of the same good and evil, the fathers now singing out the songs of praise. 10 But on the other side there sounded tan ill according cry of the enemies; and a lamentable noise was carried abroad for children that were bewailed. 11 uThe master and the servant were punished after one manner; and like as the king, so suffered the common person. 12 tSo they altogether had innumerable dead with one kind of death; neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed. 13 For whereas they would not believe any thing wby reason of the enchantments; upon the destruction of the firstborn, xthey acknowledged this people to be the sons of God. 14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and kthat night was in the midst of her swift course, 15 kthine Almighty word leapt down from heaven yout of thy royal throne, as za fierce man of war into the midst of a land of destruction, 16 and brought thine aunfeigned commandment as ba sharp sword, and standing up filled all things with death; and cit touched the heaven, but it stood upon the earth. 17 Then suddenly * dvisions of horrible dreams troubled them sore, and terrors came upon them unlooked for. 18 And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause of his death. 19 For the dreams that troubled them did foreshew this, lest they should perish, and not know why they were afflicted.

20 Yea, qthe tasting of death touched ethe righteous also, and fthere was a destruction of the multitude in the wilderness: fbut the wrath endured not long. 21 For then gthe blameless man made haste, and stood forth to defend them; and bringing ithe shield of his proper ministry, even prayer, and hthe propitiation of incense, set himself against the wrath, and so brought the calamity to an end, declaring that he was thy servant. 22 So he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body, nor force of iarms, but with a word subdued he him that punished, kalleging the oaths and covenants made with the fathers. 23 For when the dead were now fallen down by heaps one upon another, lstanding between, he stayed the wrath, and * parted the way to the living. 24 For min the long garment was the whole world, and nin the four rows of the stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy majesty oupon the diadem of his head. 25 Unto these pthe destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for it was enough that they only qtasted of the wrath.