Bible
Display

Wisdom of Solomon 16

1Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented.
1For this cause, they were deservedly punished through creatures like those which they worship, and tormented through a multitude of vermin.
2Instead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine own people, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste, even quails to stir up their appetite:
2Instead of this punishment, you, giving benefits to your people, prepared quails for food, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of their appetite,
3To the end that they, desiring food, might for the ugly sight of the beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must needs desire; but these, suffering penury for a short space, might be made partakers of a strange taste.
3to 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.
4For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should come penury, which they could not avoid: but to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented.
4For 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.
5For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and they perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured not for ever:
5For 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;
6But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.
6but 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;
7For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.
7for he who turned toward it was not saved because of that which was seen, but because of you, the Savior of all.
8And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil:
8Yes, and in this you persuaded our enemies that you are he who delivers out of every evil.
9For them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punished by such.
9For 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.
10But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.
10But your children weren’t overcome by the very fangs of venomous dragons, for your mercy passed by where they were and healed them.
11For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words; and were quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness.
11For 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.
12For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.
12For truly it was neither herb nor poultice that cured them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all people.
13For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.
13For you have authority over life and death, and you lead down to the gates of Hades, and lead up again.
14A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again.
14But though a man kills by his wickedness, he can’t retrieve the spirit that has departed or release the imprisoned soul.
15But it is not possible to escape thine hand.
15But it is not possible to escape your hand;
16For the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and showers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they consumed.
16for 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.
17For, which is most to be wondered at, the fire had more force in the water, that quencheth all things: for the world fighteth for the righteous.
17For, what was most marvelous, in the water which quenches all things, the fire burned hotter; for the world fights for the righteous.
18For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves might see and perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of God.
18For 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.
19And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above the power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an unjust land.
19At another time even in the midst of water it burns more intensely than fire, that it may destroy the produce of an unrighteous land.
20Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels’ food, and didst send them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man’s delight, and agreeing to every taste.
20Instead 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.
21For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking.
21For 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.
22But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain, did destroy the fruits of the enemies.
22But 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;
23But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished.
23and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgotten its own power.
24For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee.
24For 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.
25Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need:
25Therefore 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,
26That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee.
26that 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.
27For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away:
27For that which was not destroyed by fire, melted away when it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam,
28That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.
28that 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;
29For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.
29for the hope of the unthankful will melt as the winter’s hoar frost, and will flow away as water that has no use.