Wisdom of Solomon 16 — GMV
16
Verse 1
Therefore by the like were they punished worthily,
Verse 2
Instead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine own people,
Verse 3
To the end that they, desiring food,
Verse 4
For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should come penury, which they could not avoid:
Verse 5
For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these,
Verse 6
But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be admonished,
Verse 7
For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw,
Verse 8
And in this thou madest thine enemies confess,
Verse 9
For them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed,
Verse 10
But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame:
Verse 11
For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words;
Verse 12
For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that restored them to health:
Verse 13
For thou hast power of life and death:
Verse 14
A man indeed killeth through his malice:
Verse 15
But it is not possible to escape thy hand.
Verse 16
For the ungodly, that denied to know thee,
Verse 17
For, which is most to be wondered at,
Verse 18
For sometime the flame was mitigated,
Verse 19
And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above the power of fire,
Verse 20
Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels’ food,
Verse 21
For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children,
Verse 22
But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not,
Verse 23
But this again did even forget his own strength,
Verse 24
For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker,
Verse 25
Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions,
Verse 26
That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know,
Verse 27
For that which was not destroyed of the fire,
Verse 28
That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks,
Verse 29
For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s hoar frost,