Wisdom of Solomon, 16

1. Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented.

1. That is why this people received the punishment they deserved through similar animals and hordes of tormenting insects.

2. Instead 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:

2. But in contrast to this punishment it was kindness you showed to your people by providing quails - a delicious food - for them.

3. To 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.

3. As for the Egyptians, in spite of their fierce hunger, they were restrained by disgust from eating because of the repulsive sight of the creatures sent against them. But the Israelites after being deprived for a time were then given the finest food.

4. For 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.

4. It was necessary for their oppressors to suffer severe want, but enough for your people to know how the enemy was punished.

5. For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and they perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured not for ever:

5. Indeed when they experienced the fury of wild animals and the bites of writhing snakes, your anger did not endure.

6. But 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.

6. Their temporary affliction served as a warning; then they were given a sign of salvation to remind them of the prescriptions of your law.

7. For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.

7. For whoever turned towards it was saved, not by the image he saw, but by you, Lord, the Savior of all.

8. And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil:

8. In that way you taught our enemies that it is you who deliver us from every evil.

9. For 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.

9. They were, in fact, killed by the sting of insects and flies for which there was no cure since they deserved punishment from these creatures.

10. But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.

10. Your children instead were not overcome, even by the fangs of venomous serpents, for your mercy intervened and healed them.

11. For 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.

11. Bites quickly healed reminded them of your commands, lest they fall into deep oblivion and forget your kindness.

12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

12. No herb, no ointment healed them but your word, Lord, that heals all.

13. For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.

13. You are Lord of life and death; you bring down to the gate of the netherworld and bring back again.

14. A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again.

14. Man in his wickedness is able to kill but he cannot bring back the departed spirit or rescue the snatched soul.

15. But it is not possible to escape thine hand.

15. It is impossible to escape your hand.

16. For 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.

16. The godless, refusing to acknowledge you, were scourged by the strength of your arm, lashed by relentless downpours, hail, and pitiless storms, and consumed by fire.

17. For, 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.

17. But this was the most astounding: water, powerful to quench, made fire burn more fiercely. For the elements fight on the side of the righteous.

18. For 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.

18. At times the flame abated to spare the insects thrust against the wicked, that they might know they were pursued by God's sentence.

19. And 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.

19. At other times, in the midst of water the flame rose more fiercely than fire to destroy the harvest of an unholy land.

20. Instead 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.

20. But to your people you gave the food of angels and from heaven sent bread already prepared and suiting all tastes, having every flavor.

21. For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.

21. In this way you revealed your loving kindness to your children.

22. But 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.

22. Satisfying all needs, this bread provided what each one wanted. That food, having the appearance of snow and ice, resisted fire and did not melt; thus they understood how their enemy's harvest was destroyed by fire in the midst of hail, while lightning flashed in the falling rain.

23. But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished.

23. This same fire seemed to forget its own nature in order to spare the food of the righteous.

24. For 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.

24. Your creation is at your service for you are its Author. It works to punish the wicked and withdraws for the benefit of those who put their trust in you.

25. Therefore 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:

25. In the service of your bounty which attends to everything, creation made itself manifold and adjusted to the wish of everyone.

26. That 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.

26. Then the children you love learned that it is not crops of whatever kind which nourish mankind, but your word that sustains those who trust you.

27. For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away:

27. That food which resisted fire, simply melted in the warmth of a fleeting sunbeam,

28. That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.

28. teaching us that we must rise before the sun to give thanks and pray to you at dawn.

29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.

29. The hope of the ungrateful will melt like winter frost and flow away like water that is not being used.