1 For great are thy judgments, and cannot be expressed: therefore unnurtured souls have erred.
2 For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they being shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness, and fettered with the bonds of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternal providence.
3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.
4 For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear: but noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them, and sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.
5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.
6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.
7 As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.
8 For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at.
9 For though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared with beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,
10 They died for fear, denying that they saw the air, which could of no side be avoided.
11 For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth grievous things.
12 For fear is nothing else but a betraying of the succours which reason offereth.
13 And the expectation from within, being less, counteth the ignorance more than the cause which bringeth the torment.
14 But they sleeping the same sleep that night, which was indeed intolerable, and which came upon them out of the bottoms of inevitable hell,
15 Were partly vexed with monstrous apparitions, and partly fainted, their heart failing them: for a sudden fear, and not looked for, came upon them.
16 So then whosoever there fell down was straitly kept, shut up in a prison without iron bars,
17 For whether he were husbandman, or shepherd, or a labourer in the field, he was overtaken, and endured that necessity, which could not be avoided: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness.
18 Whether it were a whistling wind, or a melodious noise of birds among the spreading branches, or a pleasing fall of water running violently,
19 Or a terrible sound of stones cast down, or a running that could not be seen of skipping beasts, or a roaring voice of most savage wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the hollow mountains; these things made them to swoon for fear.
20 For the whole world shined with clear light, and none were hindered in their labour:
21 Over them only was spread an heavy night, an image of that darkness which should afterward receive them: but yet were they unto themselves more grievous than the darkness.
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Chapter 17 of the Wisdom Book addresses the theme of fear and night terror that can haunt people during sleep. The author presents how these fears are the result of human imagination and how it is possible to overcome them with the help of reason and trust in God. Following are five verses related to these themes:
Psalm 34:5: "I sought the Lord, and he welcomed me; he delivered me from all my fears." This verse speaks of the importance of seeking God to find comfort and liberation of fear.
Isaiah 41:10: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you with my victorious right hand." This verse shows how God's presence can be a source of strength and courage to overcome fear.
Matthew 6:34: "Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring your own concerns. Your own evil is enough every day." This verse speaks of the importance of living the present without overcoming the future, which can lead to fear and anxiety.
2 Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love and balance." This verse highlights how trust in God can help us overcome fear and find emotional balance.
1 John 4:18: "In love there is no fear; on the contrary the perfect love expels fear, because fear supposes punishment. He who is afraid is not perfected in love." This verse shows how love can be a source of security and peace, helping to overcome fear and anxiety.
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