Wisdom 11

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet.	1 She made their affairs prosper through the holy prophet.
2 They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in desert places they pitched their tents.	2 They journeyed through the uninhabited desert, and in solitudes they pitched their tents;
3 They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of their adversaries.	3 they withstood enemies and took vengeance on their foes.
4 They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the hard stone.	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.
5 For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith and rejoiced:	5 For by the things through which their foes were punished they in their need were benefited.
6 By the same things they in their need were benefited.	6 Instead of a spring, when the perennial river was troubled with impure blood
7 For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest human blood to the unjust.	7 as a rebuke to the decree for the slaying of infants, You gave them abundant water in an unhoped-for way,
8 And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked for:	8 once you had shown by the thirst they then had how you punished their adversaries.
9 Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine, and didst kill their adversaries.	9 For when they had been tried, though only mildly chastised, they recognized how the wicked, condemned in anger, were being tormented.
10 For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew how the wicked were judged with wrath and tormented.	10 the latter you tested, admonishing them as a father; the former as a stern king you probed and condemned.
11 For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn.	11 Both those afar off and those close by were afflicted:
12 For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike.	12 For a twofold grief took hold of them and a groaning at the remembrance of the ones who had departed.
13 For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past.	13 For when they heard that the cause of their own torments was a benefit to these others, they recognized the Lord.
14 For when they heard that by their punishments the others were benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was come to pass.	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.
15 For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the just.	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;
16 But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance.	16 that they might recognize that a man is punished by the very things through which he sins.
17 That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the same also he is tormented.	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,
18 For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,	18 Or new-created, wrathful, unknown beasts to breathe forth fiery breath, Or pour out roaring smoke, or flash terrible sparks from their eyes.
19 Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage: either breathing out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting horrible sparks out of their eyes:	19 Not only could these attack and completely destroy them; even their frightful appearance itself could slay.
20 Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also the very sight might kill them through fear.	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.
21 Yea and without these, they might have been slain with one blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight.	21 For with you great strength abides always; who can resist the might of your arm?
22 For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall resist the strength of thy arm?	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.
23 For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon the earth:	23 But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of men that they may repent.
24 But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.	24 For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
25 For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it.	25 And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
26 And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be preserved, if not called by thee.	26 But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls,
27 But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls.