Wisdom 16

1For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.

2Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat:

3To the end that they indeed desiring food, by means of those things that were shewn and sent among them, might loathe even that which was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want for a short time, tasted a new meat.

4For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how their enemies were destroyed.

5For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were destroyed with the bitings of crooked serpents.

6But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

7For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but by thee the Saviour of all.

8And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who deliverest from all evil.

9For the bitings of locusts, and of flies killed them, and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.

10But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy children: for thy mercy came and healed them.

11For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be able to use thy help.

12For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster that healed them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

13For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:

14A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is received:

15But it is impossible to escape thy hand.

16For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire.

17And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.

18For at one time, the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which were sent against the wicked might not be burned, but that they might see and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.

19And at another time the fire, above its own power, burned in the midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.

20Instead of which things thou didst feed thy people with the food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven prepared without labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.

21For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and serving every man’s will, it was turned to what every man liked.

22But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that they might know that fire burning in the hail and flashing in the rain destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

23But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even forget its own strength.

24For the creature serving thee the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment; and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in thee.

25Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was obedient to thy grace that nourisheth all, according to the will of them that desired it of thee.

26That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word preserveth them that believe in thee:

27For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam presently melted away:

28That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.

29For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.

1[Propter hæc et per his similia passi sunt digne tormenta, et per multitudinem bestiarum exterminati sunt.

2Pro quibus tormentis bene disposuisti populum tuum, quibus dedisti concupiscentiam delectamenti sui novum saporem, escam parans eis ortygometram:

3ut illi quidem, concupiscentes escam propter ea quæ illis ostensa et missa sunt, etiam a necessaria concupiscentia averterentur. Hi autem in brevi inopes facti, novam gustaverunt escam.

4Oportebat enim illis sine excusatione quidem supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem; his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.

5Etenim cum illis supervenit sæva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur.

6Sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit, sed ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuæ.

7Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc quod videbat sanabatur, sed per te, omnium salvatorem.

8In hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris quia tu es qui liberas ab omni malo.

9Illos enim locustarum et muscarum occiderunt morsus, et non est inventa sanitas animæ illorum, quia digni erant ab hujuscemodi exterminari.

10Filios autem tuos nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes: misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.

11In memoria enim sermonum tuorum examinabantur, et velociter salvabantur: ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent tuo uti adjutorio.

12Etenim neque herba, neque malagma sanavit eos: sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.

13Tu es enim, Domine, qui vitæ et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis, et reducis.

14Homo autem occidit quidem per malitiam; et cum exierit spiritus, non revertetur, nec revocabit animam quæ recepta est.

15Sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est.

16Negantes enim te nosse impii, per fortitudinem brachii tui flagellati sunt: novis aquis, et grandinibus, et pluviis persecutionem passi, et per ignem consumpti.

17Quod enim mirabile erat, in aqua, quæ omnia extinguit, plus ignis valebat: vindex est enim orbis justorum.

18Quodam enim tempore mansuetabatur ignis, ne comburerentur quæ ad impios missa erant animalia, sed ut ipsi videntes scirent quoniam Dei judicio patiuntur persecutionem.

19Et quodam tempore in aqua supra virtutem ignis exardescebat undique, ut iniquæ terræ nationem exterminaret.

20Pro quibus angelorum esca nutrivisti populum tuum, et paratum panem de cælo præstitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem, et omnis saporis suavitatem.

21Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam, quam in filios habes, ostendebat; et deserviens uniuscujusque voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat convertebatur.

22Nix autem et glacies sustinebant vim ignis, et non tabescebant: ut scirent quoniam fructus inimicorum exterminabat ignis ardens in grandine et pluvia coruscans;

23hic autem iterum ut nutrirentur justi, etiam suæ virtutis oblitus est.

24Creatura enim tibi factori deserviens, exardescit in tormentum adversus injustos, et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his qui in te confidunt.

25Propter hoc et tunc in omnia transfigurata, omnium nutrici gratiæ tuæ deserviebat, ad voluntatem eorum qui a te desiderabant:

26ut scirent filii tui quos dilexisti, Domine, quoniam non nativitatis fructus pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus hos qui in te crediderint conservat.

27Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat:

28ut notum omnibus esset quoniam oportet prævenire solem ad benedictionem tuam, et ad ortum lucis te adorare.

29Ingrati enim spes tamquam hibernalis glacies tabescet, et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.]

1Because of this, and by means of things similar to these, they were allowed to endure fitting torments, and they were exterminated by a multitude of beasts.

2Instead of these torments, you administered your people kindly, giving them a desire for a new taste from your delights, and preparing quails for their food,

3so that, even those desiring food, because of those things which were sent and revealed to them, were now turned away from a necessary desire. Yet these, after a brief time, having become weak, tasted a new food.

4For it was necessary, though they are without excuse, for them to unexpectedly come upon the ruin of exercising tyranny, yet this was as if to show them how their enemies were being exterminated.

5And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes.

6But your anger did not continue forever, though they were troubled for a short time for their correction, they have a sign of salvation as a remembrance of the commandment of your law.

7For he who turned to it was not healed by what he saw, but by you, the Savior of all.

8Yet in this you revealed to our enemies that you are he who delivers from all evil.

9For they were killed by the biting of locusts and flies, and there was found no remedy for their life, because they deserved to be destroyed by such things.

10But not even the teeth of venomous serpents conquered your sons, for your mercy came to them and healed them.

11For, in remembrance of your words, they were examined and were quickly saved, for forgetfulness is not engraved into your altar so that they would be unable to obtain your help.

12And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.

13For it is you, O Lord, who holds the power of life and death; you both lead to the threshold of death and you restore.

14Yet man, indeed, kills his own soul through malice, and when his spirit goes forth, it will not be returned, nor will he call back his soul when it has been received.

15But it is impossible to escape your hand.

16For the impious, having refused to know you, have been scourged by the strength of your arm, enduring persecution by unusual waters, and by hailstorms, and by rain storms, and being consumed by fire.

17For there was something extraordinary in water, which extinguishes all things; it has prevailed more than fire; for the world is the defender of the just.

18Indeed, at a certain time, the fire was subdued, so as not to burn away the animals, which were sent against the impious; and so that, in seeing this, they might know that they are suffering persecution by the judgment of God.

19And, at another time, fire burned, beyond its own power, in the midst of water, and it flared up from all around, so as to destroy the nations of an unjust land.

20Instead of these things, you nourished your people with the food of angels, and, having prepared bread from heaven, you served them without labor that which holds within itself every delight and the sweetness of every flavor.

21For your nature showed your sweetness, which you hold within your sons, and serving the will of each one, it was converted to what each one preferred.

22But snow and ice held back the strength of fire, and did not melt, so that they might know that fire, burning in the hail and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

23Yet it was also the case, so that the just might be nourished, that fire had even been deprived of its own power.

24For the creature serving you, the Creator, grows red hot in the midst of the conflict against the unjust, and yet it subsides for the benefit of those who trust in you.

25Because of this, and at that time, having been transfigured in all things, your grace was diligently serving as the nursemaid of all things, according to the will of those who long for you,

26so that your sons, whom you loved, O Lord, might know that it is not the fruits of nature which feed men, but your word, which preserves those who believe in you.

27For that which could not be destroyed by fire, was immediately melted when warmed by a few rays of the sun,

28so that it might be clear to all that it is right to come before the sun to bless you, and to adore you at the dawning of the light.

29For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water.