Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 18:7 So of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous,
and destruction of the enemies.
Wis 18:8 For wherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, by the same thou
didst glorify us, whom thou hadst called.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 18:11 The master and the servant were punished after one manner; and
like as the king, so suffered the common person.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 18:14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in
the midst of her swift course,
Wis 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,
Wis 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.
Wis 18:17 Then suddenly visions of horrible dreams troubled them sore, and
terrors came upon them unlooked for.
Wis 18:18 And one thrown here, and another there, half dead, shewed the
cause of his death.
Wis 18:19 For the dreams that troubled them did foreshew this, lest they
should perish, and not know why they were afflicted.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 18:25 Unto these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for
it was enough that they only tasted of the wrath.