Wisdom 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 She made their affairs prosper through the holy prophet.	1 She directed their works in the hands of the holy prophet.
2 They journeyed through the uninhabited desert, and in solitudes they pitched their tents;	2 They made a path through desolate areas, which were uninhabited, and set up their homes in remote places.
3 they withstood enemies and took vengeance on their foes.	3 They stood firm against the enemy, and vindicated themselves from their adversaries.
4 When they thirsted, they called upon you, and water was given them from the sheer rock, assuagement for their thirst from the hard stone.	4 They thirsted, and they called upon you, and water was given them out of the deepest rock, and respite from thirst out of the hard stone.
5 For by the things through which their foes were punished they in their need were benefited.	5 For through water, their enemies had been punished, by the corruption of their drinking water; and so, among them, when the sons of Israel lacked the abundance they would have had, their enemies rejoiced;
6 Instead of a spring, when the perennial river was troubled with impure blood	6 yet though water, when they were in need, it turned out well for them.
7 as a rebuke to the decree for the slaying of infants, You gave them abundant water in an unhoped-for way,	7 For instead of a fountain, even everlasting in flow, you gave human blood to the unjust,
8 once you had shown by the thirst they then had how you punished their adversaries.	8 and while they would be crushed into disgrace because of the murdering of infants, you unexpectedly gave your own abundant water,
9 For when they had been tried, though only mildly chastised, they recognized how the wicked, condemned in anger, were being tormented.	9 revealing through the thirst, which occurred at that time, how you would exalt your own and would kill their adversaries.
10 the latter you tested, admonishing them as a father; the former as a stern king you probed and condemned.	10 For when they were being tested, and even when receiving merciful correction, they knew in what way, when your wrath judged the impious, they would suffer torments.
11 Both those afar off and those close by were afflicted:	11 For these, advising like a father, you approved; but the others, interrogating like a severe king, you condemned.
12 For a twofold grief took hold of them and a groaning at the remembrance of the ones who had departed.	12 For whether absent or present, they were tortured alike.
13 For when they heard that the cause of their own torments was a benefit to these others, they recognized the Lord.	13 For they had received double: weariness and groaning in the remembrance of things past.
14 Him who of old had been cast out in exposure they indeed mockingly rejected; but in the end of events, they marveled at him, since their thirst proved unlike that of the just.	14 For when they paid attention to their punishments, to attend to their own benefit, they called to mind the Lord, admiring the end result.
15 And in return for their senseless, wicked thoughts, which misled them into worshiping dumb serpents and worthless insects, You sent upon them swarms of dumb creatures for vengeance;	15 For though they showed scorn by throwing out distorted statements, in the end they were amazed at the result, but this is not the same as thirsting for justice.
16 that they might recognize that a man is punished by the very things through which he sins.	16 For according to the thinking of their irrational iniquity, because some, going astray, were worshiping mute serpents and worthless beasts, you sent upon them a multitude of mute beasts for vengeance,
17 For not without means was your almighty hand, that had fashioned the universe from formless matter, to send upon them a drove of bears or fierce lions,	17 so that they might know that by whatever things a man sins, by the same also is he tormented.
18 Or new-created, wrathful, unknown beasts to breathe forth fiery breath, Or pour out roaring smoke, or flash terrible sparks from their eyes.	18 For it was not impossible for your all-powerful hand, which created the world from unknown material, to send forth upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,
19 Not only could these attack and completely destroy them; even their frightful appearance itself could slay.	19 or, in anger, beasts of a new kind, massive and strange, either breathing out a fiery vapor, or sending forth an odorous smoke, or shooting horrible sparks from their eyes;
20 Even without these, they could have been killed at a single blast, pursued by retribution and winnowed out by your mighty spirit; But you have disposed all things by measure and number and weight.	20 whereby, not only wounds would be able to destroy them, but also the very sight would kill them through fear.
21 For with you great strength abides always; who can resist the might of your arm?	21 Yet, even without these, they could have been killed with one breath, suffering persecution of their own making and being scattered by your spirit of virtue; but you have ordered all things in size and number and weight.
22 Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.	22 Though many are strong, you alone always overcome. And who will withstand the strength of your arm?
23 But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of men that they may repent.	23 For, like a tiny grain on a scale, just so is the world before you, and like a drop dew before dawn, which descends upon the earth.
24 For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.	24 But you are merciful to all, because you can do all, and you dismiss the sins of man because of repentance.
25 And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?	25 For you love all things that are, and you hate nothing of the things you have made; for you would not have created or established anything that you hated.
26 But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls,	26 For how could anything endure, except by your will? Or what, having been called by you not to exist, would be preserved?
	27 Yet you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord, who loves souls.