Wisdom 19

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 But the godless were assailed by merciless anger to the very end, for he knew beforehand what theywould do,	1 As for the ungodly, wrath came upon them without mercy unto the end: for he knew before what they would do;
2 how, after letting his people leave and hastening their departure, they would change their minds andgive chase.	2 How that having given them leave to depart, and sent them hastily away, they would repent and pursue them.
3 They were actual y stil conducting their mourning rites and lamenting at the tombs of their dead, whenanother mad scheme came into their heads and they set out to pursue, as though runaways, the people whomthey had expel ed and begged to go.	3 For whilst they were yet mourning and making lamentation at the graves of the dead, they added another foolish device, and pursued them as fugitives, whom they had intreated to be gone.
4 A wel -deserved fate urged them to this extreme and made them forget what had already happened,so that they would add to their torments the one punishment outstanding	4 For the destiny, whereof they were worthy, drew them unto this end, and made them forget the things that had already happened, that they might fulfil the punishment which was wanting to their torments:
5 and, while your people were experiencing a journey contrary to al expectations, would themselvesmeet an extraordinary death.	5 And that thy people might pass a wonderful way: but they might find a strange death.
6 For the whole creation, submissive to your commands, had its very nature re-created, so that yourchildren should be preserved from harm.	6 For the whole creature in his proper kind was fashioned again anew, serving the peculiar commandments that were given unto them, that thy children might be kept without hurt:
7 Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud; where there had been water, dry land was seen to rise;the Red Sea became an unimpeded way, the tempestuous waves, a green plain;	7 As namely, a cloud shadowing the camp; and where water stood before, dry land appeared; and out of the Red sea a way without impediment; and out of the violent stream a green field:
8 sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across, gazing at these amazing prodigies.	8 Wherethrough all the people went that were defended with thy hand, seeing thy marvellous strange wonders.
9 They were like horses at pasture, they skipped like lambs, singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.	9 For they went at large like horses, and leaped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.
10 For they stil remembered the events of their exile, how the land had bred mosquitoes instead ofanimals and the River had disgorged mil ions of frogs instead of fish.	10 For they were yet mindful of the things that were done while they sojourned in the strange land, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes.
11 Later they were to see a new way for birds to come into being, when, goaded by greed, theydemanded something tasty,	11 But afterwards they saw a new generation of fowls, when, being led with their appetite, they asked delicate meats.
12 and quails came up out of the sea to satisfy them.	12 For quails came up unto them from the sea for their contentment.
13 On the sinners, however, punishments rained down not without violent thunder as early warning; andthey suffered what their own crimes had justly deserved since they had shown such bitter hatred to foreigners.	13 And punishments came upon the sinners not without former signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behaviour toward strangers.
14 Others, indeed, had failed to welcome strangers who came to them, but the Egyptians had enslavedtheir own guests and benefactors.	14 For the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved of them.
15 The sinners, moreover, will certainly be punished for it, since they gave the foreigners a hostilewelcome;	15 And not only so, but peradventure some respect shall be had of those, because they used strangers not friendly:
16 but the latter, having given a festive reception to people who already shared the same rights asthemselves, later overwhelmed them with terrible labours.	16 But these very grievously afflicted them, whom they had received with feastings, and were already made partakers of the same laws with them.
17 Hence they were struck with blindness, like the sinners at the gate of the upright, when, yawningdarkness all around them, each had to grope his way through his own door.	17 Therefore even with blindness were these stricken, as those were at the doors of the righteous man: when, being compassed about with horrible great darkness, every one sought the passage of his own doors.
18 A new attuning of the elements occurred, as on a harp the notes may change their rhythm, though althe while preserving the same tone; and this is just what happened:	18 For the elements were changed in themselves by a kind of harmony, like as in a psaltery notes change the name of the tune, and yet are always sounds; which may well be perceived by the sight of the things that have been done.
19 land animals became aquatic, swimming ones took to the land,	19 For earthly things were turned into watery, and the things, that before swam in the water, now went upon the ground.
20 fire reinforced its strength in water, and water forgot the power of extinguishing it;	20 The fire had power in the water, forgetting his own virtue: and the water forgat his own quenching nature.
21 flames, on the other hand, did not char the flesh of delicate animals that ventured into them; nor didthey melt the heavenly food resembling ice and as easily melted.	21 On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of the corruptible living things, though they walked therein; neither melted they the icy kind of heavenly meat that was of nature apt to melt.
22 Yes, Lord, in every way you have made your people great and glorious; you have never failed to helpthem at any time or place.	22 For in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, and glorify them, neither didst thou lightly regard them: but didst assist them in every time and place.