much labour, nor that his 16 For man made them, life is fhort: but ftriveth to and he that borrowed his excel goldfiniths, and filver-own fpirit fashioned them: fmiths, and endeavoureth to but no man can make a god do like the workers in brafs, like unto himself. and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things. 13 For this man that of earthly matter maketh brittle veffels, and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others. 14¶ And all the enemies of thy people that hold them. in fubjection are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes. 15 For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods which neither have the use of eyes to fee, nor Hofes to draw breath, nor cars to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet, they are flow to 0. 17 For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for he himfelf is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he lived once, but they never. 18 Yea, they worshipped thofe beafts alfo that are most hateful: for being compared together fome are worse than others. 19. Neither are they beautiful, fo much as to be defired in refpect of beasts: but they went without the praise of God, and his bleffing. T CHAP. XVI. Herefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beafts tormented. 2¶ Instead of which punifhment, dealing graciously with thine own people, thou preparedft for them meat of a ftrange tafte, even quails to ftir up their appetite; 3 To the end, that they defiring food might, for the ugly fight of the beafts fent among them, loathe even that which they muft needs defire; but these fuffering penury penury for a fhort space, might be made partakers of a ftrange taste. 4 For it was requisite, that upon them exercifing tyranny, fhould come penury, which they could not avoid : but to these it should only be fhewed how their enemies were tormented. 5 For when the horrible fierceness of beafts came upon these, and they perifhed with the ftings of crooked ferpents, thy wrath endured not for ever. 6 But they were troubled for a small feafon, that they might be admonished, having a fign of falvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. 7 For he that turned himfelf towards it, was not faved by the thing that he faw: but by thee that art the Saviour of all. 8 And in this thou madeft thine enemies confefs, that it is thou who delivereft from all evil : 9 For them the bitings of grafhoppers and flies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punifhed by fuch. 10 But thy fons not the very teeth of venomous dra gons overcame : for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them. II For they were pricked that they should remember thy words, and were quickly faved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness. 12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaifter that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things. 13 For thou haft power of life and death: thou leadeft to the gates of hell and bringest up again. 14 A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the fpirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the foul received up, cometh again. 15 But it is not poffible to escape thine hand. 16 For the ungodly that denied to know thee, were fcourged by the ftrength of thine arm: with ftrange rains, hails, and showers were they perfecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they consumed. 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. Kk 2 righteous. ferveth thee who art the Maker, increaseth his ftrength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abat 18 For fometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the beafts that were fent against the ungod-eth his ftrength for the bely: but themselves might fee and perceive, that they were perfecuted with the judgment of God. nefit of fuch as put their trust in thee. 25 Therefore even then was it altered into all fa 19 And at another time it fhions, and was obedient to burneth even in the midft of thy grace that nourisheth all water, above the power of things according to the defire, that it might deftroy the fire of them that had need: fruits of an unjust land. 20 Inftead whereof thou feddeft thine own people with angels' food, and didft fend them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man's delight, and agreeing to every taste. 21 For thy fuftenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and ferving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking. 22 But fnow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain, did deftroy the fruits of the enemies. 23 But this again did even forget his own ftrength, that the righteous might be nourifhed. 26 That thy children, O Lord, whom thou loveft, 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. 27 For that which was not deftroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little funbeam, foon melted away: 28 That it might be known, that we muft prevent the fun to give thee thanks, and at the day-fpring pray unto thee. 29 For the hope of the unthankful fhall melt away as the winter's hoar froft, and fhall run away as unprofitable water. CHAP. XVII. FOR 24 For the creature that expreffed: therefore unnur tured tured fouls have erred. 8 For they that promised 2 For when unrighteous to drive away terrors and men thought to opprefs the troubles from a fick foul, holy nation; they being fhut were fick themselves of fear up in their houfes, the pri- worthy to be laughed at. foners of darkness, and fet- 9 For though no terrible tered with the bonds of a thing did fear them: yet belong night, lay [there] exiled | ing fcared with beasts that from the eternal providence. paffed by, and hiffing of fer3 For while they fuppofed to lie hid in their fecret fins, they were scattered under a dark vail of forgetfulness, being horribly aftonished, and troubled with (ftrange) apparitions. 4 For neither might the corner that held them, keep them from fear: but noifes, (as of waters) falling down, founded about them, and fad vifions appeared unto them with heavy countenances. 5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the ftars endure to lighten that horrible night. 6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itfelf, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they faw to be worse than the fight they faw not. 7 As for the illufions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wifdom was reproved with difgrace. pents, 10 They died for fear, denying that they faw the air, which could of no fide be avoided. II ¶ For wickedness condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being preffed with confcience, always forecafteth grievous things. 12 For fear is nothing else, but a betraying of the fuccours which reason offereth. 13 And the expectation from within being lefs, counteth the ignorance more than the cause which bringeth the 16 So then, whosoever there fell down, was ftraitly CHAP. XVIII. Evertheless, thy faints kept, fhut up in a prifon had a very great lights without iron bars. 17 For whether he were husbandman or fhepherd, or a labourer in the field, he was overtaken, and endured that neceffity, which could not be avoided: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness. 18 Whether it were a whiftling wind, or a melodious noife of birds among the spreading branches, or a pleafing fall of water running violently, 19 Or a terrible found of ftones caft down, or a running that could not be feen of skipping beafts, or a roaring voice of moft favage wild beafts, or a rebounding echo from the hollow mountains: thefe things made them to fwoon for fear. 20 For the whole world fhined with clear light, and none were hindered in their labour: 21 Over them only was fpread an heavy night, an image of that darkness, which fhould afterwards receive them: but yet were they unto themselves more grievous than the darkness. N whofe voice they hearing, and not feeing their shape, because they also had not fuffered the fame things, they counted them happy. 2 But for that they did not hurt them now, of whom they had been wronged before, they thanked them, and befought them pardon, for that they had been enemies. 3 Instead whereof thou gaveft them a burning pillar of fire, both to be a guide of the unknown journey, and an harmless fun to entertain them honourably. 4 For they were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who had kept thy fons fhut up, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law was to be given unto the world. 5 And when they had determined to flay the babes of the faints, one child being caft forth, and faved, to reprove them, thou tookest away the multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty water. 6 Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that affuredly knowing unto what oaths they had given credence, |