Wis 18

1 Nevertheless your saints had a very great light, whose voice they hearing, and not seeingtheir shape, because they also had not suffered the same things, they counted them happy. 2 But for that they did not hurt them now, of whom they had been wronged before, they thankedthem, and implored them pardon for that they had been enemies. 3 Instead whereof you gave them a burning pillar of fire, both to be a guide of the unknownjourney, and an harmless sun to entertain them honorably. 4 For they were worthy to be deprived of light and imprisoned in darkness, who had keptyour sons shut up, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law was to be given to the world. 5 And when they had determined to kill the babes of the saints, one child being cast forth,and saved, to reprove them, you took away the multitude of their children, and destroyed them altogetherin a mighty water. 6 Of that night were our fathers certified before, that assuredly knowing to what oathsthey had given credence, they might afterwards be of good cheer. 7 So of your people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous, and destruction ofthe enemies. 8 For wherewith you did punish our adversaries, by the same you did glorify us, whom youhad called. 9 For the righteous children of good men did sacrifice secretly, and with one consent madea holy law, that the saints should be like partakers of the same good and evil, the fathers now singingout the songs of praise. 10 But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies, and a lamentablenoise was carried abroad for children that were bewailed. 11 The master and the servant were punished after one manner; and like as the king, so sufferedthe common person. 12 So they all together had innumerable dead with one kind of death; neither were the livingsufficient to bury them: for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed. 13 For whereas they would not believe any thing by reason of the enchantments; upon thedestruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged this people to be the sons of God. 14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in the midst of her swiftcourse, 15 Your Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of your royal throne, as a fierce manof war into the midst of a land of destruction, 16 And brought your unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and standing up filled all thingswith death; and it touched the heaven, but it stood upon the earth. 17 Then suddenly visions of horrible dreams troubled them sore, and terrors came upon themunlooked for. 18 And one thrown here, and another there, half dead, showed the cause of his death. 19 For the dreams that troubled them did foreshew this, lest they should perish, and notknow why they were afflicted. 20 Yes, the tasting of death touched the righteous also, and there was a destruction ofthe multitude in the wilderness: but the wrath endured not long. 21 For then the blameless man made haste, and stood forth to defend them; and bringing theshield of his proper ministry, even prayer, and the propitiation of incense, set himself against the wrath,and so brought the calamity to an end, declaring that he was your servant. 22 So he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body, nor force of arms, but witha word subdued him that punished, alleging the oaths and covenants made with the fathers. 23 For when the dead were now fallen down by heaps one upon another, standing between, hestayed the wrath, and parted the way to the living. 24 For in the long garment was the whole world, and in the four rows of the stones was theglory of the fathers graven, and your Majesty upon the diadem of his head. 25 To these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for it was enough that theyonly tasted of the wrath.