Wisdom Of Solomon 19
1 As for the ungodly, wrath came upon
them without mercy unto the end: for he knew before what they would do;
2 how that having given them leave to
depart, and sent them hastily away, they would repent and pursue them.
3 For whilst they were yet mourning
and making lamentation at the graves of the dead, they added another foolish
device, and pursued them as fugitives, whom they had intreated to be gone.
4 For the destiny, whereof they were
worthy, drew them unto this end, and made them forget the things that had
already happened, that they might fulfil the punishment which was wanting to
their torments: 5 and that thy people
might pass through a wonderful way: but they might find a strange death.
6 For the whole creature in his proper
kind was fashioned again anew, serving the peculiar commandments that were
given unto them, that thy children might be kept without hurt:
7 as namely,
a cloud shadowing the camp; and where water stood before, dry land appeared;
and out of the Red sea a way without impediment; and out of the violent stream
a green field: 8 through which all the
people went that were defended with thy hand, seeing thy marvellous strange
wonders. 9 For they went at large like
horses, and leaped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered
them. 10 For they were yet mindful of
the things that were done while they sojourned in the strange land, how the
ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a
multitude of frogs instead of fishes.
11 But afterward they saw a new
generation of fowls, when, being led with their appetite, they asked delicate
meats. 12 For quails came up unto
them from the sea for their contentment.
13 And punishments came upon the
sinners not without former signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered
justly according to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard
and hateful behaviour toward strangers.
14 For the
Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not
when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved
of them. 15 And not only so, but
peradventure some respect shall be had of those, because they used strangers
not friendly: 16 but these very
grievously afflicted them, whom they had received with feastings, and were
already made partakers of the same laws with them.
17 Therefore even with blindness were
these stricken, as those were at the doors of the righteous man: when, being
compassed about with horrible great darkness, every one sought the passage of
his own doors.
18 For the elements were changed in
themselves by a kind of harmony, like as in a psaltery notes change the name
of the tune, and yet are always sounds; which may well be perceived by the
sight of the things that have been done.
19 For earthly things were turned
into watery, and the things, that before swam in the water, now went upon the
ground. 20 The fire had power in the
water, forgetting his own virtue: and the water forgat his own quenching
nature. 21 On the other side, the
flames wasted not the flesh of the corruptible living things, though they
walked therein; neither melted they the icy kind of heavenly meat, that was of
nature apt to melt. 22 For in all
things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, and glorify them, neither didst
thou lightly regard them: but didst assist them in every time and place.