The Wisdom of Solomon

Chapter-11

Wisdom 11:1 She directed their works in the hands of the holy prophet.

 

Wisdom 11:2 They made a path through desolate areas, which were uninhabited, and set up their homes in remote places.

 

Wisdom 11:3 They stood firm against the enemy, and vindicated themselves from their adversaries.

 

Wisdom 11:4 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.

 

Wisdom 11:5 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;

 

Wisdom 11:6 yet though water, when they were in need, it turned out well for them.

 

Wisdom 11:7 For instead of a fountain, even everlasting in flow, you gave human blood to the unjust,

 

Wisdom 11:8 and while they would be crushed into disgrace because of the murdering of infants, you unexpectedly gave your own abundant water,

 

Wisdom 11:9 revealing through the thirst, which occurred at that time, how you would exalt your own and would kill their adversaries.

 

Wisdom 11:10 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.

 

Wisdom 11:11 For these, advising like a father, you approved; but the others, interrogating like a severe king, you condemned.

 

Wisdom 11:12 For whether absent or present, they were tortured alike.

 

Wisdom 11:13 For they had received double: weariness and groaning in the remembrance of things past.

 

Wisdom 11:14 For when they paid attention to their punishments, to attend to their own benefit, they called to mind the Lord, admiring the end result.

 

Wisdom 11:15 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.

 

Wisdom 11:16 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,

 

Wisdom 11:17 so that they might know that by whatever things a man sins, by the same also is he tormented.

 

Wisdom 11:18 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,

 

Wisdom 11:19 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;

 

Wisdom 11:20 whereby, not only wounds would be able to destroy them, but also the very sight would kill them through fear.

 

Wisdom 11:21 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.

 

Wisdom 11:22 Though many are strong, you alone always overcome. And who will withstand the strength of your arm?

 

Wisdom 11:23 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.

 

Wisdom 11:24 But you are merciful to all, because you can do all, and you dismiss the sins of man because of repentance.

 

Wisdom 11:25 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.

 

Wisdom 11:26 For how could anything endure, except by your will? Or what, having been called by you not to exist, would be preserved?

 

Wisdom 11:27 Yet you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord, who loves souls.