{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/apo/wis.htm","path":"chr/apo/wis.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/wis.htm","text":"Wis 1\nLove righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of\nthe Lord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek\nhim.\n2\nFor he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth\nhimself unto such as do not distrust him.\n3\nFor froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when\nit is tried, reproveth the unwise.\n4\nFor into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell\nin the body that is subject unto sin.\n5\nFor the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and\nremove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will\nnot abide when unrighteousness cometh in.\n6\nFor wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a\nblasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a\ntrue beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.\n7\nFor the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which\ncontaineth all things hath knowledge of the voice.\n8\nTherefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid:\nneither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him.\n9\nFor inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the\nungodly: and the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord for\nthe manifestation of his wicked deeds.\n10\nFor the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of\nmurmurings is not hid.\n11\nTherefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and\nrefrain your tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so\nsecret, that shall go for nought: and the mouth that belieth\nslayeth the soul.\n12\nSeek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon\nyourselves destruction with the works of your hands.\n13\nFor God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the\ndestruction of the living.\n14\nFor he created all things, that they might have their being:\nand the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no\npoison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the\nearth:\n15\n(For righteousness is immortal:)\n16\nBut ungodly men with their works and words called it to them:\nfor when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to\nnought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to\ntake part with it.\nWis 2\nFor the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not\naright, Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man\nthere is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have\nreturned from the grave.\n2\nFor we are born at all adventure: and we shall be hereafter\nas though we had never been: for the breath in our nostrils is\nas smoke, and a little spark in the moving of our heart:\n3\nWhich being extinguished, our body shall be turned into\nashes, and our spirit shall vanish as the soft air,\n4\nAnd our name shall be forgotten in time, and no man shall\nhave our works in remembrance, and our life shall pass away as\nthe trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, that is\ndriven away with the beams of the sun, and overcome with the\nheat thereof.\n5\nFor our time is a very shadow that passeth away; and after\nour end there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no\nman cometh again.\n6\nCome on therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are\npresent: and let us speedily use the creatures like as in youth.\n7\nLet us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments: and let\nno flower of the spring pass by us:\n8\nLet us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be\nwithered:\n9\nLet none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness: let\nus leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place: for this is\nour portion, and our lot is this.\n10\nLet us oppress the poor righteous man, let us not spare the\nwidow, nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged.\n11\nLet our strength be the law of justice: for that which is\nfeeble is found to be nothing worth.\n12\nTherefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is\nnot for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he\nupbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth to our\ninfamy the transgressings of our education.\n13\nHe professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth\nhimself the child of the Lord.\n14\nHe was made to reprove our thoughts.\n15\nHe is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not\nlike other men's, his ways are of another fashion.\n16\nWe are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from\nour ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just\nto be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father.\n17\nLet us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall\nhappen in the end of him.\n18\nFor if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and\ndeliver him from the hand of his enemies.\n19\nLet us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we\nmay know his meekness, and prove his patience.\n20\nLet us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own\nsaying he shall be respected.\n21\nSuch things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their\nown wickedness hath blinded them.\n22\nAs for the mysteries of God, they kn ew them not: neither\nhoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a\nreward for blameless souls.\n23\nFor God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an\nimage of his own eternity.\n24\nNevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the\nworld: and they that do hold of his side do find it.\nWis 3\nBut the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and\nthere shall no torment touch them.\n2\nIn the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their\ndeparture is taken for misery,\n3\nAnd their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are\nin peace.\n4\nFor though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their\nhope full of immortality.\n5\nAnd having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly\nrewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for\nhimself.\n6\nAs gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them\nas a burnt offering.\n7\nAnd in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run\nto and fro like sparks among the stubble.\n8\nThey shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the\npeople, and their Lord shall reign for ever.\n9\nThey that put their trust in him shall understand the truth:\nand such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace\nand mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.\n10\nBut the ungodly shall be punished according to their own\nimaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken\nthe Lord.\n11\nFor whoso despiseth wisdom and nurture, he is miserable, and\ntheir hope is vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works\nunprofitable:\n12\nTheir wives are foolish, and their children wicked:\n13\nTheir offspring is cursed. Wherefore blessed is the barren\nthat is undefiled, which hath not known the sinful bed: she\nshall have fruit in the visitation of souls.\n14\nAnd blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought\nno iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto\nhim shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance\nin the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind.\n15\nFor glorious is the fruit of good labours: and the root of\nwisdom shall never fall away.\n16\nAs for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to\ntheir perfection, and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be\nrooted out.\n17\nFor though they live long, yet shall they be nothing\nregarded: and their last age shall be without honour.\n18\nOr, if they die quickly, they have no hope, neither comfort\nin the day of trial.\n19\nFor horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation.\nWis 4\nBetter it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the\nmemorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and\nwith men.\n2\nWhen it is present, men take example at it; and when it is\ngone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for\never, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.\n3\nBut the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive,\nnor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast\nfoundation.\n4\nFor though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing\nnot last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the\nforce of winds they shall be rooted out.\n5\nThe imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit\nunprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.\n6\nFor children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of\nwickedness against their parents in their trial.\n7\nBut though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall\nhe be in rest.\n8\nFor honourable age is not that which standeth in length of\ntime, nor that is measured by number of years.\n9\nBut wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life\nis old age.\n10\nHe pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among\nsinners he was translated.\n11\nYea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should\nalter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.\n12\nFor the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that\nare honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine\nthe simple mind.\n13\nHe, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long\ntime:\n14\nFor his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take\nhim away from among the wicked.\n15\nThis the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they\nup this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his\nsaints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.\n16\nThus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly\nwhich are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many\nyears and old age of the unrighteous.\n17\nFor they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not\nunderstand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to\nwhat end the Lord hath set him in safety.\n18\nThey shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them\nto scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a\nreproach among the dead for evermore.\n19\nFor he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that\nthey shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the\nfoundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in\nsorrow; and their memorial shall perish.\n20\nAnd when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall\ncome with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to\ntheir face.\nWis 5\nThen shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before\nthe face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of\nhis labours.\n2\nWhen they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear,\nand shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far\nbeyond all that they looked for.\n3\nAnd they repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit shall\nsay within themselves, This was he, whom we had sometimes in\nderision, and a proverb of reproach:\n4\nWe fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be\nwithout honour:\n5\nHow is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is\namong the saints!\n6\nTherefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light\nof righteousness hath not shined unto us, and the sun of\nrighteousness rose not upon us.\n7\nWe wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and\ndestruction: yea, we have gone through deserts, where there lay\nno way: but as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it.\n8\nWhat hath pride profited us? or what good hath riches with\nour vaunting brought us?\n9\nAll those things are passed away like a shadow, and as a post\nthat hasted by;\n10\nAnd as a ship that passeth over the waves of the water, which\nwhen it is gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found, neither\nthe pathway of the keel in the waves;\n11\nOr as when a bird hath flown through the air, there is no\ntoken of her way to be found, but the light air being beaten\nwith the stroke of her wings and parted with the violent noise\nand motion of them, is passed through, and therein afterwards no\nsign where she went is to be found;\n12\nOr like as when an arrow is shot at a mark, it parteth the\nair, which immediately cometh together again, so that a man\ncannot know where it went through:\n13\nEven so we in like manner, as soon as we were born, began to\ndraw to our end, and had no sign of virtue to shew; but were\nconsumed in our own wickedness.\n14\nFor the hope of the Godly is like dust that is blown away\nwith the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the\nstorm; like as the smoke which is dispersed here and there with\na tempest, and passeth away as the remembrance of a guest that\ntarrieth but a day.\n15\nBut the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is\nwith the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.\n16\nTherefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a\nbeautiful crown from the Lord's hand: for with his right hand\nshall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.\n17\nHe shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and\nmake the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.\n18\nHe shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true\njudgment instead of an helmet.\n19\nHe shall take holiness for an invincible shield.\n20\nHis severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world\nshall fight with him against the unwise.\n21\nThen shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from\nthe clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the\nmark.\n22\nAnd hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone\nbow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the\nfloods shall cruelly drown them.\n23\nYea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a\nstorm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the\nwhole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the\nmighty.\nWis 6\nHear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be\njudges of the ends of the earth.\n2\nGive ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude\nof nations.\n3\nFor power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the\nHighest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.\n4\nBecause, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged\naright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;\n5\nHorribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp\njudgment shall be to them that be in high places.\n6\nFor mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall\nbe mightily tormented.\n7\nFor he which is Lord over all shall fear no man's person,\nneither shall he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he\nhath made the small and great, and careth for all alike.\n8\nBut a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.\n9\nUnto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn\nwisdom, and not fall away.\n10\nFor they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and\nthey that have learned such things shall find what to answer.\n11\nWherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and\nye shall be instructed.\n12\nWisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away\nseen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.\nWis 6\nShe preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first\nknown unto them.\n14\nWhoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he\nshall find her sitting at his doors.\n15\nTo think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and\nwhoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.\n16\nFor she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her,\nsheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth\nthem in every thought.\n17\nFor the very true beginning of her is the desire of\ndiscipline; and the care of discipline is love;\n18\nAnd love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto\nher laws is the assurance of incorruption;\n19\nAnd incorruption maketh us near unto God:\n20\nTherefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.\n21\nIf your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings\nof the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.\n22\nAs for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell\nyou, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out\nfrom the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of\nher into light, and will not pass over the truth.\n23\nNeither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall\nhave no fellowship with wisdom.\n24\nBut the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world:\nand a wise king is the upholding of the people.\n25\nReceive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall\ndo you good.\nWis 7\nI myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring\nof him that was first made of the earth,\n2\nAnd in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time\nof ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and\nthe pleasure that came with sleep.\n3\nAnd when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon\nthe earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I\nuttered was crying, as all others do.\n4\nI was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.\n5\nFor there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.\n6\nFor all men have one entrance into life, and the like going\nout.\n7\nWherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called\nupon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.\n8\nI preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed\nriches nothing in comparison of her.\n9\nNeither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all\ngold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be\ncounted as clay before her.\n10\nI loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her\ninstead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth\nout.\n11\nAll good things together came to me with her, and innumerable\nriches in her hands.\n12\nAnd I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them:\nand I knew not that she was the mother of them.\n13\nI learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do\nnot hide her riches.\n14\nFor she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they\nthat use become the friends of God, being commended for the\ngifts that come from learning.\n15\nGod hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as\nis meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that\nleadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.\n16\nFor in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also,\nand knowledge of workmanship.\n17\nFor he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that\nare, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation\nof the elements:\n18\nThe beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the\nalterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of\nseasons:\n19\nThe circuits of years, and the positions of stars:\n20\nThe natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild\nbeasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the\ndiversities of plants and the virtues of roots:\n21\nAnd all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I\nknow.\n22\nFor wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for\nin her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold,\nsubtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt,\nloving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted,\nready to do good,\n23\nKind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all\npower, overseeing all things, and going through all\nunderstanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.\n24\nFor wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and\ngoeth through all things by reason of her pureness.\n25\nFor she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure\ninfluence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can\nno defiled thing fall into her.\n26\nFor she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the\nunspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his\ngoodness.\n27\nAnd being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in\nherself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering\ninto holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.\n28\nFor God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.\n29\nFor she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the\norder of stars: being compared with the light, she is found\nbefore it.\n30\nFor after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail\nagainst wisdom.\nWis 8\nWisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily\ndoth she order all things.\nWis 8\nI loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to\nmake her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.\n3\nIn that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her\nnobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.\n4\nFor she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God,\nand a lover of his works.\n5\nIf riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is\nricher than wisdom, that worketh all things?\n6\nAnd if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning\nworkman than she?\n7\nAnd if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for\nshe teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude:\nwhich are such things, as en can have nothing more profitable in\ntheir life.\n8\nIf a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old,\nand conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the\nsubtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she\nforeseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and\ntimes.\n9\nTherefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me,\nknowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a\ncomfort in cares and grief.\n10\nFor her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and\nhonour with the elders, though I be young.\n11\nI shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be\nadmired in the sight of great men.\n12\nWhen I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I\nspeak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they\nshall lay their hands upon their mouth.\n13\nMoreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and\nleave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after\nme.\n14\nI shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be\nsubject unto me.\n15\nHorrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of\nme; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in\nwar.\n16\nAfter I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with\nher: for her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with\nher hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.\n17\nNow when I considered these things in myself, and pondered\nthem in my heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is\nimmortality;\n18\nAnd great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the\nworks of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of\nconference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good\nreport; I went about seeking how to take her to me.\n19\nFor I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.\n20\nYea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.\n21\nNevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise\nobtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of\nwisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord,\nand besought him, and with my whole heart I said,\nWis 9\nO God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all\nthings with thy word,\n2\nAnd ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have\ndominion over the creatures which thou hast made,\n3\nAnd order the world according to equity and righteousness,\nand execute judgment with an upright heart:\n4\nGive me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not\nfrom among thy children:\n5\nFor I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble\nperson, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding\nof judgment and laws.\n6\nFor though a man be never so perfect among the children of\nmen, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing\nregarded.\n7\nThou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge\nof thy sons and daughters:\n8\nThou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount,\nand an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of\nthe holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the\nbeginning.\n9\nAnd wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was\npresent when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable\nin thy sight, and right in thy commandments.\n10\nO send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of\nthy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may\nknow what is pleasing unto thee.\n11\nFor she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall\nlead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.\n12\nSo shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy\npeople righteously, and be worthy to sit in my father's seat.\n13\nFor what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who\ncan think what the will of the Lord is?\n14\nFor the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices\nare but uncertain.\n15\nFor the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the\nearthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many\nthings.\n16\nAnd hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth,\nand with labour do we find the things that are before us: but\nthe things that are in heaven who hath searched out?\n17\nAnd thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and\nsend thy Holy Spirit from above?\n18\nFor so the ways of them which lived on the earth were\nreformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto\nthee, and were saved through wisdom.\nWis 10\nShe preserved the first formed father of the world, that was\ncreated alone, and brought him out of his fall,\n2\nAnd gave him power to rule all things.\n3\nBut when the unrighteous went away from her in his anger, he\nperished also in the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.\n4\nFor whose cause the earth being drowned with the flood,\nwisdom again preserved it, and directed the course of the\nrighteous in a piece of wood of small value.\n5\nMoreover, the nations in their wicked conspiracy being\nconfounded, she found out the righteous, and preserved him\nblameless unto God, and kept him strong against his tender\ncompassion toward his son.\n6\nWhen the ungodly perished, she delivered the righteous man,\nwho fled from the fire which fell down upon the five cities.\n7\nOf whose wickedness even to this day the waste land that\nsmoketh is a testimony, and plants bearing fruit that never come\nto ripeness: and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an\nunbelieving soul.\n8\nFor regarding not wisdom, they gat not only this hurt, that\nthey knew not the things which were good; but also left behind\nthem to the world a memorial of their foolishness: so that in\nthe things wherein they offended they could not so much as be\nhid.\n9\nRut wisdom delivered from pain those that attended upon her.\n10\nWhen the righteous fled from his brother's wrath she guided\nhim in right paths, shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him\nknowledge of holy things, made him rich in his travels, and\nmultiplied the fruit of his labours.\n11\nIn the covetousness of such as oppressed him she stood by\nhim, and made him rich.\n12\nShe defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from\nthose that lay in wait, and in a sore conflict she gave him the\nvictory; that he might know that goodness is stronger than all.\n13\nWhen the righteous was sold, she forsook him not, but\ndelivered him from sin: she went down with him into the pit,\n14\nAnd left him not in bonds, till she brought him the sceptre\nof the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: as\nfor them that had accused him, she shewed them to be liars, and\ngave him perpetual glory.\n15\nShe delivered the righteous people and blameless seed from\nthe nation that oppressed them.\n16\nShe entered into the soul of the servant of the Lord, and\nwithstood dreadful kings in wonders and signs;\n17\nRendered to the righteous a reward of their labours, guided\nthem in a marvellous way, and was unto them for a cover by day,\nand a light of stars in the night season;\n18\nBrought them through the Red sea, and led them through much\nwater:\n19\nBut she drowned their enemies, and cast them up out of the\nbottom of the deep.\n20\nTherefore the righteous spoiled the ungodly, and praised thy\nholy name, O Lord, and magnified with one accord thine hand,\nthat fought for them.\n21\nFor wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues\nof them that cannot speak eloquent.\nWis 11\nShe prospered their works in the hand of the holy prophet.\n2\nThey went through the wilderness that was not inhabited, and\npitched tents in places where there lay no way.\n3\nThey stood against their enemies, and were avenged of their\nadversaries.\n4\nWhen they were thirsty, they called upon thee, and water was\ngiven them out of the flinty rock, and their thirst was quenched\nout of the hard stone.\n5\nFor by what things their enemies were punished, by the same\nthey in their need were benefited.\n6\nFor instead of of a perpetual running river troubled with\nfoul blood,\n7\nFor a manifest reproof of that commandment, whereby the\ninfants were slain, thou gavest unto them abundance of water by\na means which they hoped not for:\n8\nDeclaring by that thirst then how thou hadst punished their\nadversaries.\n9\nFor when they were tried albeit but in mercy chastised, they\nknew how the ungodly were judged in wrath and tormented,\nthirsting in another manner than the just.\n10\nFor these thou didst admonish and try, as a father: but the\nother, as a severe king, thou didst condemn and punish.\n11\nWhether they were absent or present, they were vexed alike.\n12\nFor a double grief came upon them, and a groaning for the\nremembrance of things past.\n13\nFor when they heard by their own punishments the other to be\nbenefited, they had some feeling of the Lord.\n14\nFor whom they respected with scorn, when he was long before\nthrown out at the casting forth of the infants, him in the end,\nwhen they saw what came to pass, they admired.\n15\nBut for the foolish devices of their wickedness, wherewith\nbeing deceived they worshipped serpents void of reason, and vile\nbeasts, thou didst send a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon\nthem for vengeance;\n16\nThat they might know, that wherewithal a man sinneth, by the\nsame also shall he be punished.\n17\nFor thy Almighty hand, that made the world of matter without\nform, wanted not means to send among them a multitude of bears\nor fierce lions,\n18\nOr unknown wild beasts, full of rage, newly created,\nbreathing out either a fiery vapour, or filthy scents of\nscattered smoke, or shooting horrible sparkles out of their\neyes:\n19\nWhereof not only the harm might dispatch them at once, but\nalso the terrible sight utterly destroy them.\n20\nYea, and without these might they have fallen down with one\nblast, being persecuted of vengeance, and scattered abroad\nthrough the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all\nthings in measure and number and weight.\n21\nFor thou canst shew thy great strength at all times when thou\nwilt; and who may withstand the power of thine arm?\n22\nFor the whole world before thee is as a little grain of the\nbalance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down\nupon the earth.\n23\nBut thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things,\nand winkest at the sins of men, because they should amend.\n24\nFor thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest\nnothing which thou hast made: for never wouldest thou have made\nany thing, if thou hadst hated it.\n25\nAnd how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy\nwill? or been preserved, if not called by thee?\n26\nBut thou sparest all: for they are thine, O Lord, thou lover\nof souls.\nWis 12\nFor thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things.\n2\nTherefore chastenest thou them by little and little that\noffend, and warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein\nthey have offended, that leaving their wickedness they may\nbelieve on thee, O Lord.\n3\nFor it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our fathers\nboth those old inhabitants of thy holy land,\n4\nWhom thou hatedst for doing most odious works of witchcrafts,\nand wicked sacrifices;\n5\nAnd also those merciless murderers of children, and devourers\nof man's flesh, and the feasts of blood,\n6\nWith their priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew,\nand the parents, that killed with their own hands souls\ndestitute of help:\n7\nThat the land, which thou esteemedst above all other, might\nreceive a worthy colony of God's children.\n8\nNevertheless even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send\nwasps, forerunners of thine host, to destroy them by little and\nlittle.\n9\nNot that thou wast unable to bring the ungodly under the hand\nof the righteous in battle, or to destroy them at once with\ncruel beasts, or with one rough word:\n10\nBut executing thy judgments upon them by little and little,\nthou gavest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that\nthey were a naughty generation, and that their malice was bred\nin them, and that their cogitation would never be changed.\n11\nFor it was a cursed seed from the beginning; neither didst\nthou for fear of any man give them pardon for those things\nwherein they sinned.\n12\nFor who shall say, What hast thou done? or who shall\nwithstand thy judgment? or who shall accuse thee for the nations\nthat perish, whom thou made? or who shall come to stand against\nthee, to be revenged for the unrighteous men?\n13\nFor neither is there any God but thou that careth for all, to\nwhom thou mightest shew that thy judgment is not unright.\n14\nNeither shall king or tyrant be able to set his face against\nthee for any whom thou hast punished.\n15\nForsomuch then as thou art righteous thyself, thou orderest\nall things righteously: thinking it not agreeable with thy power\nto condemn him that hath not deserved to be punished.\n16\nFor thy power is the beginning of righteousness, and because\nthou art the Lord of all, it maketh thee to be gracious unto\nall.\n17\nFor when men will not believe that thou art of a full power,\nthou shewest thy strength, and among them that know it thou\nmakest their boldness manifest.\n18\nBut thou, mastering thy power, judgest with equity, and\norderest us with great favour: for thou mayest use power when\nthou wilt.\n19\nBut by such works hast thou taught thy people that the just\nman should be merciful, and hast made thy children to be of a\ngood hope that thou givest repentance for sins.\n20\nFor if thou didst punish the enemies of thy children, and the\ncondemned to death, with such deliberation, giving them time and\nplace, whereby they might be delivered from their malice:\n21\nWith how great circumspection didst thou judge thine own\nsons, unto whose fathers thou hast sworn, and made covenants of\ngood promises?\n22\nTherefore, whereas thou dost chasten us, thou scourgest our\nenemies a thousand times more, to the intent that, when we\njudge, we should carefully think of thy goodness, and when we\nourselves are judged, we should look for mercy.\n23\nWherefore, whereas men have lived dissolutely and\nunrighteously, thou hast tormented them with their own\nabominations.\n24\nFor they went astray very far in the ways of error, and held\nthem for gods, which even among the beasts of their enemies were\ndespised, being deceived, as children of no understanding.\n25\nTherefore unto them, as to children without the use of\nreason, thou didst send a judgment to mock them.\n26\nBut they that would not be reformed by that correction,\nwherein he dallied with them, shall feel a judgment worthy of\nGod.\n27\nFor, look, for what things they grudged, when they were\npunished, that is, for them whom they thought to be gods; [now]\nbeing punished in them, when they saw it, they acknowledged him\nto be the true God, whom before they denied to know: and\ntherefore came extreme damnation upon them.\nWis 13\nSurely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God,\nand could not out of the good things that are seen know him that\nis: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the\nworkmaster;\n2\nBut deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the\ncircle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of\nheaven, to be the gods which govern the world.\n3\nWith whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be\ngods; let them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the\nfirst author of beauty hath created them.\n4\nBut if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let\nthem understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.\n5\nFor by the greatness and beauty of the creatures\nproportionably the maker of them is seen.\n6\nBut yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they\nperadventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.\n7\nFor being conversant in his works they search him diligently,\nand believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that\nare seen.\n8\nHowbeit neither are they to be pardoned.\n9\nFor if they were able to know so much, that they could aim at\nthe world; how did they not sooner find out the Lord thereof?\n10\nBut miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope, who\ncall them gods, which are the works of men's hands, gold and\nsilver, to shew art in, and resemblances of beasts, or a stone\ngood for nothing, the work of an ancient hand.\n11\nNow a carpenter that felleth timber, after he hath sawn down\na tree meet for the purpose, and taken off all the bark\nskilfully round about, and hath wrought it handsomely, and made\na vessel thereof fit for the service of man's life;\n12\nAnd after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat,\nhath filled himself;\n13\nAnd taking the very refuse among those which served to no\nuse, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, hath\ncarved it diligently, when he had nothing else to do, and formed\nit by the skill of his understanding, and fashioned it to the\nimage of a man;\n14\nOr made it like some vile beast, laying it over with\nvermilion, and with paint colouring it red, and covering every\nspot therein;\n15\nAnd when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a\nwall, and made it fast with iron:\n16\nFor he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that\nit was unable to help itself; for it is an image, and hath need\nof help:\n17\nThen maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and\nchildren, and is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no\nlife.\n18\nFor health he calleth upon that which is weak: for life\nprayeth to that which is dead; for aid humbly beseecheth that\nwhich hath least means to help: and for a good journey he asketh\nof that which cannot set a foot forward:\n19\nAnd for gaining and getting, and for good success of his\nhands, asketh ability to do of him, that is most unable to do\nany thing.\nWis 14\nAgain, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass\nthrough the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more\nrotten than the vessel that carrieth him.\n2\nFor verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built\nit by his skill.\n3\nBut thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast\nmade a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;\n4\nShewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a\nman went to sea without art.\n5\nNevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom\nshould be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a\nsmall piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel\nare saved.\n6\nFor in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the\nhope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel,\nand left to all ages a seed of generation.\n7\nFor blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.\n8\nBut that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as\nhe that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being\ncorruptible, it was called god.\n9\nFor the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful\nunto God.\n10\nFor that which is made shall be punished together with him\nthat made it.\n11\nTherefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be\na visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an\nabomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a\nsnare to the feet of the unwise.\n12\nFor the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual\nfornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.\n13\nFor neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they\nbe for ever.\n14\nFor by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and\ntherefore shall they come shortly to an end.\n15\nFor a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath\nmade an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as\na god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that\nwere under him ceremonies and sacrifices.\n16\nThus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was\nkept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the\ncommandments of kings.\n17\nWhom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far\noff, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made\nan express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that\nby this their forwardness they might flatter him that was\nabsent, as if he were present.\n18\nAlso the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set\nforward the ignorant to more superstition.\n19\nFor he, peradventure willing to please one in authority,\nforced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best\nfashion.\n20\nAnd so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took\nhim now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.\n21\nAnd this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men,\nserving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and\nstocks the incommunicable name.\n22\nMoreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the\nknowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of\nignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.\n23\nFor whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used\nsecret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;\n24\nThey kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled:\nbut either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by\nadultery.\n25\nSo that there reigned in all men without exception blood,\nmanslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption,\nunfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,\n26\nDisquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns,\ndefiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages,\nadultery, and shameless uncleanness.\n27\nFor the worshipping of idols not to be named is the\nbeginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.\n28\nFor either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies,\nor live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.\n29\nFor insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life;\nthough they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.\n30\nHowbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both\nbecause they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols,\nand also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.\n31\nFor it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is\nthe just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence\nof the ungodly.\nWis 15\nBut thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in\nmercy ordering all things,\n2\nFor if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will\nnot sin, knowing that we are counted thine.\n3\nFor to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy\npower is the root of immortality.\n4\nFor neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us,\nnor an image spotted with divers colours, the painter's\nfruitless labour;\n5\nThe sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so\nthey desire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.\n6\nBoth they that make them, they that desire them, and they\nthat worship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to\nhave such things to trust upon.\n7\nFor the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel\nwith much labour for our service: yea, of the same clay he\nmaketh both the vessels that serve for clean uses, and likewise\nalso all such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of\neither sort, the potter himself is the judge.\n8\nAnd employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the\nsame clay, even he which a little before was made of earth\nhimself, and within a little while after returneth to the same,\nout when his life which was lent him shall be demanded.\n9\nNotwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much\nlabour, nor that his life is short: but striveth to excel\ngoldsmiths and silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the\nworkers in brass, and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit\nthings.\n10\nHis heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his\nlife of less value than clay:\n11\nForasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired\ninto him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.\n12\nBut they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a\nmarket for gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way,\nthough it be by evil means.\n13\nFor this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels\nand graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.\n14\nAnd all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in\nsubjection, are most foolish, and are more miserable than very\nbabes.\n15\nFor they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods:\nwhich neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw\nbreath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as\nfor their feet, they are slow to go.\n16\nFor man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit\nfashioned them: but no man can make a god like unto himself.\n17\nFor being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands:\nfor he himself is better than the things which he worshippeth:\nwhereas he lived once, but they never.\n18\nYea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful:\nfor being compared together, some are worse than others.\n19\nNeither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in\nrespect of beasts: but they went without the praise of God and\nhis blessing.\nWis 16\nTherefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the\nmultitude of beasts tormented.\n2\nInstead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine\nown people, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste,\neven quails to stir up their appetite:\n3\nTo the end that they, desiring food, might for the ugly sight\nof the beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must\nneeds desire; but these, suffering penury for a short space,\nmight be made partakers of a strange taste.\n4\nFor it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny\nshould come penury, which they could not avoid: but to these it\nshould only be shewed how their enemies were tormented.\n5\nFor when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these,\nand they perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath\nendured not for ever:\n6\nBut they were troubled for a small season, that they might be\nadmonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in\nremembrance of the commandment of thy law.\n7\nFor he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the\nthing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.\n8\nAnd in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is\nthou who deliverest from all evil:\n9\nFor them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed,\nneither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were\nworthy to be punished by such.\n10\nBut thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame:\nfor thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.\n11\nFor they were pricked, that they should remember thy words;\nand were quickly saved, that not falling into deep\nforgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy\ngoodness.\n12\nFor it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that\nrestored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all\nthings.\n13\nFor thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the\ngates of hell, and bringest up again.\n14\nA man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when\nit is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up\ncometh again.\n15\nBut it is not possible to escape thine hand.\n16\nFor the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by\nthe strength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and\nshowers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, and\nthrough fire were they consumed.\n17\nFor, which is most to be wondered at, the fire had more force\nin the water, that quencheth all things: for the world fighteth\nfor the righteous.\n18\nFor sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn\nup the beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves\nmight see and perceive that they were persecuted with the\njudgment of God.\n19\nAnd at another time it burneth even in the midst of water\nabove the power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an\nunjust land.\n20\nInstead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels'\nfood, and didst send them from heaven bread prepared without\ntheir labour, able to content every man's delight, and agreeing\nto every taste.\n21\nFor thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children,\nand serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to\nevery man's liking.\n22\nBut snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they\nmight know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the\nrain, did destroy the fruits of the enemies.\n23\nBut this again did even forget his own strength, that the\nrighteous might be nourished.\n24\nFor the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker\nincreaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their\npunishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as\nput their trust in thee.\n25\nTherefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was\nobedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to\nthe desire of them that had need:\n26\nThat thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that\nit is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it\nis thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee.\n27\nFor that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed\nwith a little sunbeam, soon melted away:\n28\nThat it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give\nthee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.\n29\nFor the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the\nwinter's hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.\nWis 17\nFor great are thy judgments, and cannot be expressed:\ntherefore unnurtured souls have erred.\n2\nFor when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation;\nthey being shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness,\nand fettered with the bonds of a long night, lay [there] exiled\nfrom the eternal providence.\n3\nFor while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they\nwere scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being\nhorribly astonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.\n4\nFor neither might the corner that held them keep them from\nfear: but noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them,\nand sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.\n5\nNo power of the fire might give them light: neither could the\nbright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible\nnight.\n6\nOnly there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very\ndreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things\nwhich they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.\n7\nAs for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and\ntheir vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.\n8\nFor they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles\nfrom a sick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be\nlaughed at.\n9\nFor though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared\nwith beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,\n10\nThey died for fear, denying that they saw the air, which\ncould of no side be avoided.\n11\nFor wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very\ntimorous, and being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth\ngrievous things.\n12\nFor fear is nothing else but a betraying of the succours\nwhich reason offereth.\n13\nAnd the expectation from within, being less, counteth the\nignorance more than the cause which bringeth the torment.\n14\nBut they sleeping the same sleep that night, which was indeed\nintolerable, and which came upon them out of the bottoms of\ninevitable hell,\n15\nWere partly vexed with monstrous apparitions, and partly\nfainted, their heart failing them: for a sudden fear, and not\nlooked for, came upon them.\n16\nSo then whosoever there fell down was straitly kept, shut up\nin a prison without iron bars,\n17\nFor whether he were husbandman, or shepherd, or a labourer in\nthe field, he was overtaken, and endured that necessity, which\ncould not be avoided: for they were all bound with one chain of\ndarkness.\n18\nWhether it were a whistling wind, or a melodious noise of\nbirds among the spreading branches, or a pleasing fall of water\nrunning violently,\n19\nOr a terrible sound of stones cast down, or a running that\ncould not be seen of skipping beasts, or a roaring voice of most\nsavage wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the hollow\nmountains; these things made them to swoon for fear.\n20\nFor the whole world shined with clear light, and none were\nhindered in their labour:\n21\nOver them only was spread an heavy night, an image of that\ndarkness which should afterward receive them: but yet were they\nunto themselves more grievous than the darkness.\nWis 18\nNevertheless thy saints had a very great light, whose voice\nthey hearing, and not seeing their shape, because they also had\nnot suffered the same things, they counted them happy.\n2\nBut for that they did not hurt them now, of whom they had\nbeen wronged before, they thanked them, and besought them pardon\nfor that they had been enemies.\n3\nInstead whereof thou gavest them a burning pillar of fire,\nboth to be a guide of the unknown journey, and an harmless sun\nto entertain them honourably.\n4\nFor they were worthy to be deprived of light and imprisoned\nin darkness, who had kept thy sons shut up, by whom the\nuncorrupt light of the law was to be given unto the world.\n5\nAnd when they had determined to slay the babes of the saints,\none child being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou\ntookest away the multitude of their children, and destroyedst\nthem altogether in a mighty water.\n6\nOf that night were our fathers certified afore, that\nassuredly knowing unto what oaths they had given credence, they\nmight afterwards be of good cheer.\n7\nSo of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the\nrighteous, and destruction of the enemies.\n8\nFor wherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, by the same\nthou didst glorify us, whom thou hadst called.\n9\nFor the righteous children of good men did sacrifice\nsecretly, and with one consent made a holy law, that the saints\nshould be like partakers of the same good and evil, the fathers\nnow singing out the songs of praise.\n10\nBut on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of\nthe enemies, and a lamentable noise was carried abroad for\nchildren that were bewailed.\n11\nThe master and the servant were punished after one manner;\nand like as the king, so suffered the common person.\n12\nSo they all together had innumerable dead with one kind of\ndeath; neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in\none moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed.\n13\nFor whereas they would not believe any thing by reason of the\nenchantments; upon the destruction of the firstborn, they\nacknowledged this people to be the sons of God.\n14\nFor while all things were in quiet silence, and that night\nwas in the midst of her swift course,\n15\nThine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal\nthrone, as a fierce man of war into the midst of a land of\ndestruction,\n16\nAnd brought thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and\nstanding up filled all things with death; and it touched the\nheaven, but it stood upon the earth.\n17\nThen suddenly visions of horrible dreams troubled them sore,\nand terrors came upon them unlooked for.\n18\nAnd one thrown here, and another there, half dead, shewed the\ncause of his death.\n19\nFor the dreams that troubled them did foreshew this, lest\nthey should perish, and not know why they were afflicted.\n20\nYea, the tasting of death touched the righteous also, and\nthere was a destruction of the multitude in the wilderness: but\nthe wrath endured not long.\n21\nFor then the blameless man made haste, and stood forth to\ndefend them; and bringing the shield of his proper ministry,\neven prayer, and the propitiation of incense, set himself\nagainst the wrath, and so brought the calamity to an end,\ndeclaring that he was thy servant.\n22\nSo he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body, nor\nforce of arms, but with a word subdued him that punished,\nalleging the oaths and covenants made with the fathers.\n23\nFor when the dead were now fallen down by heaps one upon\nanother, standing between, he stayed the wrath, and parted the\nway to the living.\n24\nFor in the long garment was the whole world, and in the four\nrows of the stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy\nMajesty upon the daidem of his head.\n25\nUnto these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them:\nfor it was enough that they only tasted of the wrath.\nWis 19\nAs for the ungodly, wrath came upon them without mercy unto\nthe end: for he knew before what they would do;\n2\nHow that having given them leave to depart, and sent them\nhastily away, they would repent and pursue them.\n3\nFor whilst they were yet mourning and making lamentation at\nthe graves of the dead, they added another foolish device, and\npursued them as fugitives, whom they had intreated to be gone.\n4\nFor the destiny, whereof they were worthy, drew them unto\nthis end, and made them forget the things that had already\nhappened, that they might fulfil the punishment which was\nwanting to their torments:\n5\nAnd that thy people might pass a wonderful way: but they\nmight find a strange death.\n6\nFor the whole creature in his proper kind was fashioned again\nanew, serving the peculiar commandments that were given unto\nthem, that thy children might be kept without hurt:\n7\nAs namely, a cloud shadowing the camp; and where water stood\nbefore, dry land appeared; and out of the Red sea a way without\nimpediment; and out of the violent stream a green field:\n8\nWherethrough all the people went that were defended with thy\nhand, seeing thy marvellous strange wonders.\n9\nFor they went at large like horses, and leaped like lambs,\npraising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.\n10\nFor they were yet mindful of the things that were done while\nthey sojourned in the strange land, how the ground brought forth\nflies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude\nof frogs instead of fishes.\n11\nBut afterwards they saw a new generation of fowls, when,\nbeing led with their appetite, they asked delicate meats.\n12\nFor quails came up unto them from the sea for their\ncontentment.\n13\nAnd punishments came upon the sinners not without former\nsigns by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly\naccording to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more\nhard and hateful behaviour toward strangers.\n14\nFor the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not\nwhen they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had\nwell deserved of them.\n15\nAnd not only so, but peradventure some respect shall be had\nof those, because they used strangers not friendly:\n16\nBut these very grievously afflicted them, whom they had\nreceived with feastings, and were already made partakers of the\nsame laws with them.\n17\nTherefore even with blindness were these stricken, as those\nwere at the doors of the righteous man: when, being compassed\nabout with horrible great darkness, every one sought the passage\nof his own doors.\n18\nFor the elements were changed in themselves by a kind of\nharmony, like as in a psaltery notes change the name of the\ntune, and yet are always sounds; which may well be perceived by\nthe sight of the things that have been done.\n19\nFor earthly things were turned into watery, and the things,\nthat before swam in the water, now went upon the ground.\n20\nThe fire had power in the water, forgetting his own virtue:\nand the water forgat his own quenching nature.\n21\nOn the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of the\ncorruptible living things, though they walked therein; neither\nmelted they the icy kind of heavenly meat that was of nature apt\nto melt.\n22\nFor in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, and\nglorify them, neither didst thou lightly regard them: but didst\nassist them in every time and place.","title":"The Wisdom of Solomon","type":"page"}