Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 16

¹Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented. ²Instead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine own people, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste, even quails to stir up their appetite: ³To the end that they, desiring food, might for the ugly sight of the beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must needs desire; but these, suffering penury for a short space, might be made partakers of a strange taste. ⁴For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should come penury, which they could not avoid: but to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented. ⁵For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and they perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured not for ever: ⁶But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. ⁷For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all. ⁸And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil:

⁹For them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punished by such. ¹⁰But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them. ¹¹For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words; and were quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness. ¹²For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things. ¹³For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again. ¹⁴A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again. ¹⁵But it is not possible to escape thine hand. ¹⁶For the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and showers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they consumed.

¹⁷For, which is most to be wondered at, the fire had more force in the water, that quencheth all things: for the world fighteth for the righteous. ¹⁸For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves might see and perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of God. ¹⁹And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above the power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an unjust land. ²⁰Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels’ food, and didst send them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man’s delight, and agreeing to every taste. ²¹For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking. ²²But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain, did destroy the fruits of the enemies. ²³But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished. ²⁴For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee.

²⁵Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need: ²⁶That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee. ²⁷For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away: ²⁸That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee. ²⁹For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.