The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 16 -

God’s different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.

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

Instead 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:

To 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.

For 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.

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

But 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.

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

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

For 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.

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

For 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.

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

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

A 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:

But it is impossible to escape thy hand.

For 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.

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

For 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.

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

Instead 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.

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

But 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.

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

For 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.

Therefore 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.

That 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:

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

That 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.

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

God’s different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.

For this cause, they were deservedly punished through creatures like those which they worship, and tormented through a multitude of vermin.

Instead of this punishment, you, giving benefits to your people, prepared quails for food, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of their appetite,

to the end that your enemies, desiring food, might for the hideousness of the creatures sent among them, loathe even the necessary appetite; but these, your people, having for a short time suffered lack, might even partake of delicacies.

For it was necessary that inescapable lack should come upon those oppressors, but that to these it should only be showed how their enemies were tormented.

For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon your people, and they were perishing by the bites of crooked serpents, your wrath didn’t continue to the uttermost;

but for admonition were they troubled for a short time, having a token of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of your law;

for he who turned toward it was not saved because of that which was seen, but because of you, the Savior of all.

Yes, and in this you persuaded our enemies that you are he who delivers out of every evil.

For the bites of locusts and flies truly killed them. No healing for their life was found, because they were worthy to be punished by such things.

But your children weren’t overcome by the very fangs of venomous dragons, for your mercy passed by where they were and healed them.

For they were bitten to put them in remembrance of your oracles, and were quickly saved, lest, falling into deep forgetfulness, they should become unable to respond to your kindness.

For truly it was neither herb nor poultice that cured them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all people.

For you have authority over life and death, and you lead down to the gates of Hades, and lead up again.

But though a man kills by his wickedness, he can’t retrieve the spirit that has departed or release the imprisoned soul.

But it is not possible to escape your hand;

for ungodly men, refusing to know you, were scourged in the strength of your arm, pursued with strange rains and hails and relentless storms, and utterly consumed with fire.

For, what was most marvelous, in the water which quenches all things, the fire burned hotter; for the world fights for the righteous.

For at one time the flame was restrained, that it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that these themselves as they looked might see that they were chased by the judgment of God.

At another time even in the midst of water it burns more intensely than fire, that it may destroy the produce of an unrighteous land.

Instead of these things, you gave your people angels’ food to eat, and you provided ready-to-eat bread for them from heaven without toil, having the virtue of every pleasant flavor, and agreeable to every taste.

For your nature showed your sweetness toward your children, while that bread, serving the desire of the eater, changed itself according to every man’s choice.

But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains;

and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgotten its own power.

For the creation, ministering to you, its maker, strains its force against the unrighteous for punishment and in kindness, slackens it on behalf of those who trust in you.

Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms, it ministered to your all-nourishing bounty, according to the desire of those who had need,

that your children, whom you loved, O Lord, might learn that it is not the growth of crops that nourishes a man, but that your word preserves those who trust you.

For that which was not destroyed by fire, melted away when it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam,

that it might be known that we must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light;

for the hope of the unthankful will melt as the winter’s hoar frost, and will flow away as water that has no use.