Wis 15:9 Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much labour, nor that his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths and silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in bra.s.s, and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.

Wis 15:10 His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay:

Wis 15:11 Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.

Wis 15:12 But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil means.

Wis 15:13 For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.

Wis 15:14 And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.

Wis 15:15 For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be G.o.ds: which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet, they are slow to go.

Wis 15:16 For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a G.o.d like unto himself.

Wis 15:17 For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for he himself is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he lived once, but they never.

Wis 15:18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for being compared together, some are worse than others.

Wis 15:19 Neither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in respect of beasts: but they went without the praise of G.o.d and his blessing.

Wis 16:1 Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the mult.i.tude of beasts tormented.

Wis 16:2 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 appet.i.te:

Wis 16:3 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 s.p.a.ce, might be made partakers of a strange taste.

Wis 16:4 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.

Wis 16:5 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:

Wis 16:6 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.

Wis 16:7 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.

Wis 16:8 And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil:

Wis 16:9 For them the bitings of gra.s.shoppers and flies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punished by such.

Wis 16:10 But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.

Wis 16:11 For they were p.r.i.c.ked, that they should remember thy words; and were quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness.

Wis 16:12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

Wis 16:13 For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of h.e.l.l, and bringest up again.

Wis 16:14 A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again.

Wis 16:15 But it is not possible to escape thine hand.

Wis 16:16 For the unG.o.dly, 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.

Wis 16:17 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.

Wis 16:18 For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the beasts that were sent against the unG.o.dly; but themselves might see and perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of G.o.d.

Wis 16:19 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.

Wis 16:20 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.

Wis 16:21 For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appet.i.te of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.

Wis 16:22 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.

Wis 16:23 But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished.

Wis 16:24 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.

Wis 16:25 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:

Wis 16:26 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.

Wis 16:27 For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away:

Wis 16:28 That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.

Wis 16:29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's h.o.a.r frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.

Wis 17:1 For great are thy judgments, and cannot be expressed: therefore unnurtured souls have erred.

Wis 17:2 For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they being shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness, and fettered with the bonds of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternal providence.

Wis 17:3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.

Wis 17:4 For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear: but noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them, and sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.

Wis 17:5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.

Wis 17:6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.

Wis 17:7 As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.

Wis 17:8 For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at.

Wis 17:9 For though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared with beasts that pa.s.sed by, and hissing of serpents,