Wisdom 16

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Because of this, and by means of things similar to these, they were allowed to endure fitting torments, and they were exterminated by a multitude of beasts.	1 Therefore those men were deservedly punished through such creatures, and were tormented by a multitude of animals.
2 Instead of these torments, you administered your people kindly, giving them a desire for a new taste from your delights, and preparing quails for their food,	2 Instead of this punishment thou didst show kindness to thy people, and thou didst prepare quails to eat, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of appetite;
3 so that, even those desiring food, because of those things which were sent and revealed to them, were now turned away from a necessary desire. Yet these, after a brief time, having become weak, tasted a new food.	3 in order that those men, when they desired food, might lose the least remnant of appetite because of the odious creatures sent to them, while thy people, after suffering want a short time, might partake of delicacies.
4 For it was necessary, though they are without excuse, for them to unexpectedly come upon the ruin of exercising tyranny, yet this was as if to show them how their enemies were being exterminated.	4 For it was necessary that upon those oppressors inexorable want should come, while to these it was merely shown how their enemies were being tormented.
5 And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes.	5 For when the terrible rage of wild beasts came upon thy people and they were being destroyed by the bites of writhing serpents, thy wrath did not continue to the end;
6 But your anger did not continue forever, though they were troubled for a short time for their correction, they have a sign of salvation as a remembrance of the commandment of your law.	6 they were troubled for a little while as a warning, and received a token of deliverance to remind them of thy law's command.
7 For he who turned to it was not healed by what he saw, but by you, the Savior of all.	7 For he who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw, but by thee, the Savior of all.
8 Yet in this you revealed to our enemies that you are he who delivers from all evil.	8 And by this also thou didst convince our enemies that it is thou who deliverest from every evil.
9 For they were killed by the biting of locusts and flies, and there was found no remedy for their life, because they deserved to be destroyed by such things.	9 For they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies, and no healing was found for them, because they deserved to be punished by such things;
10 But not even the teeth of venomous serpents conquered your sons, for your mercy came to them and healed them.	10 but thy sons were not conquered even by the teeth of venomous serpents, for thy mercy came to their help and healed them.
11 For, in remembrance of your words, they were examined and were quickly saved, for forgetfulness is not engraved into your altar so that they would be unable to obtain your help.	11 To remind them of thy oracles they were bitten, and then were quickly delivered, lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness and become unresponsive to thy kindness.
12 And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.	12 For neither herb nor poultice cured them, but it was thy word, O Lord, which heals all men.
13 For it is you, O Lord, who holds the power of life and death; you both lead to the threshold of death and you restore.	13 For thou hast power over life and death; thou dost lead men down to the gates of Hades and back again.
14 Yet man, indeed, kills his own soul through malice, and when his spirit goes forth, it will not be returned, nor will he call back his soul when it has been received.	14 A man in his wickedness kills another, but he cannot bring back the departed spirit, nor set free the imprisoned soul.
15 But it is impossible to escape your hand.	15 To escape from thy hand is impossible;
16 For the impious, having refused to know you, have been scourged by the strength of your arm, enduring persecution by unusual waters, and by hailstorms, and by rain storms, and being consumed by fire.	16 for the ungodly, refusing to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, pursued by unusual rains and hail and relentless storms, and utterly consumed by fire.
17 For there was something extraordinary in water, which extinguishes all things; it has prevailed more than fire; for the world is the defender of the just.	17 For--most incredible of all--in the water, which quenches all things, the fire had still greater effect, for the universe defends the righteous.
18 Indeed, at a certain time, the fire was subdued, so as not to burn away the animals, which were sent against the impious; and so that, in seeing this, they might know that they are suffering persecution by the judgment of God.	18 At one time the flame was restrained, so that it might not consume the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that seeing this they might know that they were being pursued by the judgment of God;
19 And, at another time, fire burned, beyond its own power, in the midst of water, and it flared up from all around, so as to destroy the nations of an unjust land.	19 and at another time even in the midst of water it burned more intensely than fire, to destroy the crops of the unrighteous land.
20 Instead of these things, you nourished your people with the food of angels, and, having prepared bread from heaven, you served them without labor that which holds within itself every delight and the sweetness of every flavor.	20 Instead of these things thou didst give thy people food of angels, and without their toil thou didst supply them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste.
21 For your nature showed your sweetness, which you hold within your sons, and serving the will of each one, it was converted to what each one preferred.	21 For thy sustenance manifested thy sweetness toward thy children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit every one's liking.
22 But snow and ice held back the strength of fire, and did not melt, so that they might know that fire, burning in the hail and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.	22 Snow and ice withstood fire without melting, so that they might know that the crops of their enemies were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail and flashed in the showers of rain;
23 Yet it was also the case, so that the just might be nourished, that fire had even been deprived of its own power.	23 whereas the fire, in order that the righteous might be fed, even forgot its native power.
24 For the creature serving you, the Creator, grows red hot in the midst of the conflict against the unjust, and yet it subsides for the benefit of those who trust in you.	24 For creation, serving thee who hast made it, exerts itself to punish the unrighteous, and in kindness relaxes on behalf of those who trust in thee.
25 Because of this, and at that time, having been transfigured in all things, your grace was diligently serving as the nursemaid of all things, according to the will of those who long for you,	25 Therefore at that time also, changed into all forms, it served thy all-nourishing bounty, according to the desire of those who had need,
26 so that your sons, whom you loved, O Lord, might know that it is not the fruits of nature which feed men, but your word, which preserves those who believe in you.	26 so that thy sons, whom thou didst love, O Lord, might learn that it is not the production of crops that feeds man, but that thy word preserves those who trust in thee.
27 For that which could not be destroyed by fire, was immediately melted when warmed by a few rays of the sun,	27 For what was not destroyed by fire was melted when simply warmed by a fleeting ray of the sun,
28 so that it might be clear to all that it is right to come before the sun to bless you, and to adore you at the dawning of the light.	28 to make it known that one must rise before the sun to give thee thanks, and must pray to thee at the dawning of the light;
29 For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water.	29 for the hope of an ungrateful man will melt like wintry frost, and flow away like waste water.