Wisdom of Solomon
18:1 Nevertheless thy saints had a very great light, whose voice they
hearing, and not seeing their shape, because they also had not suffered
the same things, they counted them happy.
18:2 But for that they did not hurt them now, of whom they had been wronged
before, they thanked them, and besought them pardon for that they had
been enemies.
18:3 Instead whereof thou gavest them a burning pillar of fire, both to be a
guide of the unknown journey, and an harmless sun to entertain them
honourably.
18:4 For they were worthy to be deprived of light and imprisoned in darkness,
who had kept thy sons shut up, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law
was to be given unto the world.
18:5 And when they had determined to slay the babes of the saints, one child
being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest away the
multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty
water.
18:6 Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that assuredly knowing
unto what oaths they had given credence, they might afterwards be of
good cheer.
18:7 So of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous, and
destruction of the enemies.
18:8 For wherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, by the same thou didst
glorify us, whom thou hadst called.
18:9 For the righteous children of good men did sacrifice secretly, and with
one consent made a holy law, that the saints should be like partakers of
the same good and evil, the fathers now singing out the songs of praise.
18:10 But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies,
and a lamentable noise was carried abroad for children that were
bewailed.
18:11 The master and the servant were punished after one manner; and like as
the king, so suffered the common person.
18:12 So they all together had innumerable dead with one kind of death;
neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the
noblest offspring of them was destroyed.
18:13 For whereas they would not believe any thing by reason of the
enchantments; upon the destruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged
this people to be the sons of God.
18:14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in the
midst of her swift course,
18:15 Thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne, as
a fierce man of war into the midst of a land of destruction,
18:16 And brought thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and standing
up filled all things with death; and it touched the heaven, but it stood
upon the earth.
18:17 Then suddenly visions of horrible dreams troubled them sore, and terrors
came upon them unlooked for.
18:18 And one thrown here, and another there, half dead, shewed the cause of
his death.
18:19 For the dreams that troubled them did foreshew this, lest they should
perish, and not know why they were afflicted.
18:20 Yea, the tasting of death touched the righteous also, and there was a
destruction of the multitude in the wilderness: but the wrath endured
not long.
18:21 For then the blameless man made haste, and stood forth to defend them;
and bringing the shield 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 thy servant.
18:22 So he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body, nor force of
arms, but with a word subdued him that punished, alleging the oaths and
covenants made with the fathers.
18:23 For when the dead were now fallen down by heaps one upon another,
standing between, he stayed the wrath, and parted the way to the living.
18:24 For in the long garment was the whole world, and in the four rows of the
stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy Majesty upon the
daidem of his head.
18:25 Unto these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for it was
enough that they only tasted of the wrath.
