{N}SEEK LIFE; KNOW GOD{/}
{1}1{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Love justice, you who rule  over the world. Think rightly 
of God, seek him with simplicity of heart, [=]_{I}2_{/}for he reveals 
himself to those who do not challenge him and is found by those 
who do not distrust him.
{R}_{I}3_{/}Crooked thinking distances you from God, and his Omnipotence, 
put to{I}_{/}the test, confounds the foolish.
[=]_{I}4_{/}Wisdom does not enter the wicked nor remain in a body that 
is enslaved to sin. {R}_{I}5_{/}The Holy Spirit who instructs us shuns 
deceit; it keeps aloof from foolishness and is ill at ease when 
injustice is done.
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man, and will not leave 
the blasphemous unpunished, because God knows his innermost 
feelings, truly sees his thoughts and hears what he says.
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}For God's spirit has filled the whole world and he who 
holds together all things, knows each word that is spoken. {I}8_{/}So 
whoever speaks unjustly will not escape; the irrefutable sentence 
will reach him. {I}9_{/}The intentions of the unholy will be examined; 
what he has said will reach the Lord and his wickedness will be 
confounded.
{I}10_{/}Remember that a jealous ear hears everything; even whispers 
are recorded.
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Beware then, of empty complaints and keep your tongue 
from faultfinding, since your most secret word will have 
consequences; a lying tongue brings death to the soul. {R}_{I}12_{/}Do 
not bring about your own death by your wrong way of living. And do 
not let the work of{I}_{/}your hands destroy you.
{R}_{I}13_{/}God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the 
destruction of the living. [=]_{I}14_{/}Since he has created 
everything, all creatures of the universe are for our good; there 
is no deadly poison in them and the netherworld has no dominion 
over the earth, {R}_{I}15_{/}because justice is not submitted to death.

{N}THE GODLESS SAY THERE IS NO OTHER LIFE{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}16_{/}It is the godless that consider death a friend and call 
for it in every way. They have made a pact with it and they shall 
justly belong to it.

{1}2{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Led by mistaken reasons  they think, "Life is short and 
sad and there is no cure for death. It was never heard that anyone 
came back from the netherworld.
[=]_{I}2_{/}By chance we were born; when life is over, it will be as 
if we never existed. The breath in our nostrils is like a puff of 
smoke, and thought is no more than a spark resulting from the 
movement of the heart. {R}_{I}3_{/}Put this out and the body turns to 
ashes, the spirit melts away like idle air.
{I}4_{/}In time our name will be forgotten, no one will remember what 
we did. [=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}Life passes like the shadow of a cloud, 
disappears like mist chased by the sun and overpowered by its 
heat. Our days are like the passing of a shadow; from death there 
is no turning back, the seal is set: no one returns.
[=]_{I}6_{/}Come then and enjoy all the good things; let us use 
creation with the zest of youth, {I}7_{/}making the most of choicest 
wines and perfumes and not passing by any flower of spring. 
{I}8_{/}Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they fade.
{I}9_{/}Let everyone take part in our orgy; let us post everywhere the 
signs of our joy, for that is our due, the lot assigned to us.
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Let us oppress the upright man who is poor, and have no 
thought for the widow, or respect for the white hair of old age.
{I}11_{/}Let our strength be our right, since it is proved that 
weakness is useless. [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Let us set a trap for the 
righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he 
reproaches us for our breaches of the Law and accuses us of being 
false to our upbringing.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}He claims knowledge of God and calls himself son of the 
Lord. {I}14_{/}He has become a reproach to our way of thinking; even 
to meet him is burdensome to us. {I}15_{/}He does not live like others 
and behaves strangely.
[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}According to him we have low standards, so he keeps 
aloof from us as if we were unclean. He emphasizes the happy end 
of the righteous and boasts of having God as father.
{I}17_{/}Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his 
end will be. [=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}If the righteous is a son of God, God will 
defend him and deliver him from his adversaries.
[=]_{I}19_{/}Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control 
and test his patience. {R}_{I}20_{/}When we have condemned him to a 
shameful death, we may test his words."
{I}21_{/}This is the way they reason, but they are mistaken, blinded 
by their malice. {R}_{I}22_{/}They do not know the mysteries of God nor 
do they hope for the reward of a holy life; they do not believe 
that the blameless will be recompensed.
[=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Indeed God created man to be immortal in the likeness of 
his own nature, [=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}but the envy of the devil brought death 
to the world, and those who take his side shall experience death.

{N}THE JUST WILL LIVE WITH GOD{/}

{1}3{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}The souls of the just are in  the hands of God and no 
torment shall touch them.
{R}_{I}2_{/}In the eyes of the unwise they appear to be dead. Their going 
is held as a disaster; {I}3_{/}it seems that they lose everything by 
departing from us, but they are in peace.
{R}_{I}4_{/}Though seemingly they have been punished, immortality was the 
soul of their hope. [=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}After slight affliction will come 
great blessings, for God has tried them and found them worthy to 
be with him; [=]_{I}6_{/}after testing them as gold in the furnace, he 
has accepted them as a holocaust.
[=]_{I}7_{/}At the time of his coming they will shine like sparks that 
run in the stubble. [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}They will govern nations and rule 
over peoples, and the Lord will be their king forever.
[=]_{I}9_{/}Those who trust in him will penetrate the truth, those who 
are faithful will live with him in love, for his grace and mercy 
are for his chosen ones.
[=]_{I}10_{/}But the godless who have ignored the upright and deserted 
the Lord, will meet the punishment their evil thoughts deserve.
{I}11_{/}Unhappy are those who put no value on wisdom and instruction, 
their hope is vain, their efforts useless, their work without 
profit; [=]_{I}12_{/}their wives are foolish, their children evil, 
their posterity cursed.

{N}A TRULY FRUITFUL LIFE{/}

[\u0095]_{I}13_{/}Happy the childless wife if she is blameless and has not 
been guilty of adultery; she will be found fruitful on the day of 
judgment.
{R}_{I}14_{/}And happy the impotent man who has done no evil or harbored 
resentful thoughts against the Lord. His fidelity will be richly 
rewarded with a special place in the Lord's heavenly sanctuary.
{I}15_{/}The toil of the righteous bears choice fruit; and wise 
discernment is a tree that does not wither.
{I}16_{/}But the children born of adultery die young and the offspring 
of an unlawful union disappear.
{I}17_{/}If they live long, they count for nothing and are finally 
despised in their old age. {I}18_{/}If they die young, it is without 
hope, and they cannot comfort themselves with thinking of the 
Judgment.
[=]_{I}19_{/}Cruel is the fate of an evil race.

{1}4{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Better to have no children and to  be virtuous. People 
like this are highly considered by God and men. The memory of 
their life will never end.
{I}2_{/}When virtue is present we imitate it; when it is absent we 
long for it; it is crowned in eternity for having triumphed in the 
blameless struggle.
[=]_{I}3_{/}The numerous progeny of the wicked will be of no use. 
Offspring of doubtful plants, they will not have deep roots or lay 
solid foundations. [=]_{I}4_{/}For a time they may produce, but their 
weak branches shaken by the wind will be uprooted by the storm. 
{I}5_{/}Their twigs will be broken off before grown, their fruit 
useless, unripe for eating and good for nothing. {R}_{I}6_{/}Children 
born of unlawful intercourse witness, when God examines them, to 
the wrongdoing of their parents.
[\u0095]_{I}7_{/}The upright, even if he dies before his time, will be at 
rest. {I}8_{/}Honorable age does not depend on length of days, nor is 
the number of years a true measure of life.
{R}_{I}9_{/}A man's gray hair is understanding, and a spotless life is 
ripe old age.
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}The upright was pleasing to God, who loved him, and 
since he was living among sinners, he was taken up. {R}_{I}11_{/}God 
removed him lest evil impair his understanding and treachery 
seduce his soul. {I}12_{/}For the fascination of evil obscures true 
values and restless desire undermines a simple heart.
{I}13_{/}Though his life soon ended, he traveled far. {R}_{I}14_{/}Because 
his soul was precious to the Lord, he was quickly removed from the 
wickedness around him.
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}People saw but did not under-stand, and it did not occur 
to them that God's grace and mercy are with his chosen ones, his 
protection is for the holy.
{R}_{I}16_{/}The just man who dies will condemn the wicked man who 
survives. A life fulfilled early in youth condemns the endless 
days of the wicked.
{R}_{I}17_{/}They may see the death of the wise, but they will not 
understand God's design for him and why he has taken him to 
safety. [=]_{I}18_{/}They may see and sneer at him, but the Lord will 
also laugh at them {R}_{I}19_{/}when they have become a useless corpse, a 
loathsome and dead thing forever.
The Lord will dash them to the ground, voiceless, shaking them 
from their foundations; they will wither and suffer anguish; even 
their memory will fade.
{I}20_{/}They will come trembling for the reckoning of their sins and 
they will be confounded when confronted with their wickedness.

{N}JUDGMENT ON THE JUST AND ON THE GODLESS{/}

{1}5{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Then the just man will stand with confidence
facing those who oppressed him,
making light of his labors.
{I}2_{/}Seeing him they will be seized with a terrible fear,
amazed to find him unexpectedly saved.
Stricken with remorse
and distress, {I}3_{/}they will groan and say,
{R}_{I}4_{/}"He is the one we mocked,
the one we reproached, fools that we were!
We considered his life foolishness,
and his death, the supreme humiliation,
[=]_{I}5_{/}but see: he is counted among the sons of God
and is given his lot with the holy angels!
[=]_{I}6_{/}How far have we wandered from the truth!
The light of the upright did not enlighten us
nor did its sun rise for us.
{R}_{I}7_{/}We trod the paths of injustice and death,
traveling, more than enough,
through trackless deserts,
but we were unable to know the Lord's ways.
{I}8_{/}What good has our pride been?
What profit in the wealth we boasted about?
[=]_{I}9_{/}All that has passed away like a shadow,
like a fleeting rumor.
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Like a ship cutting the sea,
leaving no trace of its course,
and the mark of its keel - not seen in its wake;
{I}11_{/}like a bird flying across the sky
leaving no trace of its flight;
it beats the light air with its pinions,
cleaving a way by the force of its wings
but without a sign of its passing;
{I}12_{/}or like an arrow shot at a target,
with the displaced air closing in on itself
and no one knowing what way it passed.
{I}13_{/}It is the same for us; scarcely born we have disappeared.
What sign of virtue are we able to show,
spent as we are in our own wickedness?"
[=]_{I}14_{/}The hope of the godless is like chaff blown in the wind,
like a light frost melted in the storm,
like smoke dispersed by the wind;
it fades like the memory of a guest of a single day.
[=]_{I}15_{/}But the upright live forever,
their reward is with the Lord,
and the Most High has them in his care.
[=]_{I}16_{/}This is why they receive, from the hands of the Lord,
a royal crown, a splendid diadem.
He will shelter them with his hand
and his arm will be their shield.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}God's jealous love will display his weapon;
he will arm all creation to punish his enemies.
{I}18_{/}He will put on justice as his breastplate
and right judgment as his helmet,
{I}19_{/}invincible holiness will be his shield,
{I}20_{/}implacable anger his sword,
and the universe will march with him against the foolish.
{I}21_{/}Well-aimed bolts of lightning will strike the target; the 
clouds will be a curved bow shooting arrows.
{I}22_{/}The hailstones of his fury will rain on them, the ocean will 
rage against them and the rivers engulf them without mercy. 
[=]_{I}23_{/}A powerful wind will rise against them and blow them away 
like straw. In this way lawlessness will bring the whole earth to 
ruin, and evildoing topple the thrones of the mighty.

{C}NO TRUE WISDOM WITHOUT RELIGIOUS TRUTH{/}

{1}6{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Listen, O kings, and understand; rulers of the most 
distant lands, take warning. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Pay attention, you who rule 
multitudes and boast of the numerous subjects in your pagan 
nations.
[=]_{I}3_{/}For authority was given you by the Lord, your kingship is 
from the Most High who will examine your works and scrutinize your 
intentions.
{R}_{I}4_{/}If, as officials of his kingdom, you have not judged justly 
or observed his law or walked the way God pointed out, {I}5_{/}he will 
oppose you swiftly and terribly; his sentence strikes the mighty 
suddenly.
{I}6_{/}For the lowly there may be excuses and pardon, but the great 
will be severely punished.
[=]_{I}7_{/}For the Lord of all makes no distinction, nor does he take 
account of greatness. Both great and lowly are his work and he 
watches over all, {I}8{/}but the powerful are to be judged more 
strictly.
{I}9_{/}It is to you then, sovereigns, that I speak, that you may 
learn Wisdom and not stumble.
{I}10_{/}For those who keep the holy laws in a holy way will be 
acknowledged holy, and those who accept the teaching will find in 
it their defense.
{I}11_{/}Welcome my words, desire them and they will instruct you.
{I}12_{/}Wisdom is luminous and never tarnished; she willingly lets 
herself be seen by those who love her, and known by those who look 
for her. [=]_{I}13_{/}She hastens to meet those who long for her. 
[=]_{I}14_{/}Seek her in the morning and you will not be disappointed; 
you will find her sitting at your door.
{I}15_{/}To meditate on Wisdom is understanding fully grown; whoever 
is on the watch for her will be free of anxiety. [=]_{I}16_{/}She goes 
in search of those who are worthy of her, graciously meets them on 
the way and is present in their every thought.
{I}17_{/}The beginning of Wisdom is a sincere desire for discipline; 
concern for discipline is love of her, {I}18_{/}and loving her means 
keeping her laws; {R}_{I}19_{/}the observance of her laws assures one of 
immortality, and immortality brings us close to God.
{I}20_{/}In this way the desire for Wisdom leads to kingship.
{I}21_{/}So then, sovereigns of nations, you who are fond of thrones 
and scepters, honor Wisdom if you wish to reign forever.
{I}22_{/}What Wisdom is and how she came to be, I will tell you. I 
shall hide nothing from you, but trace her from the beginning and 
clearly make her known.
{I}23_{/}I will not mislead you and hide the truth, for I am free of 
gnawing envy which has nothing in common with Wisdom.
[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}A great number of wise men could bring about the 
salvation of the world and a sensible king makes for the stability 
of his people; {I}25_{/}so learn from what I say and profit from it.

{1}7{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}I, too, am a mortal man{I}_{/} like others, a descendant of 
the first human being formed from clay. My flesh was molded in a 
mother's womb; {R}_{I}2_{/}her blood formed me for ten months from the 
seed of man, given in pleasure, the companion of sleep.
{I}3_{/}Once born, I breathed the air common to everyone; I fell on 
the earth, the same for all; my first cry was like that of other 
infants.
{I}4_{/}I was nourished, cared for and wrapped in swaddling clothes; 
{R}_{I}5_{/}indeed, no other king began life differently. {I}6_{/}For there 
is but one way into life for all and one way out of it.

{N}I PRAYED AND WISDOM WAS GIVEN TO ME{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}I prayed and understanding was given to me; I asked 
earnestly and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
{I}8_{/}I preferred her to scepters and thrones and I considered 
wealth as nothing compared with her.
{I}9_{/}I preferred her to any jewel of inestimable value, since gold 
beside her is nothing but a few grains of sand, and silver but 
mud. {I}10_{/}I loved her more than wealth and beauty and even 
preferred her to light, because her radiance never dies.
{I}11_{/}She brought with her all other good things, untold riches in 
her hands. {I}12_{/}I rejoiced at all that came with Wisdom without 
knowing she was their mother.
{I}13_{/}What I learned without self-interest I share freely and with 
no desire to conceal her value; [=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}for she is an 
inexhaustible treasure for man and those who possess her have 
gained the friendship of God, commended to him by the fruits of 
her discipline.
{R}_{I}15_{/}May God grant me to speak with discernment and reflect in a 
way worthy of the gifts I have received, for he is the guide of 
Wisdom and directs wise men. [=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}For we are in God's hands, 
we ourselves, our words, our understanding and technical 
knowledge.
{I}17_{/}He, in fact, has given me true knowledge of what is, of the 
world and the properties of the elements; {I}18_{/}the beginning, the 
end and the times in between; the alternation of the solstices and 
the succession of the seasons; {I}19_{/}the cycles of the year and the 
position of the stars; [=]_{I}20_{/}the natures of animal species and 
the ways of wild beasts; the power of spirits and human reasoning; 
the varieties of plants and medicinal properties of roots.

{N}THE REFLECTION OF ETERNAL LIGHT{/}

[\u0095]_{I}21_{/}I have come to know everything we see and everything 
hidden, [=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}because Wisdom, who designed them all, taught 
me.
In her is a spirit that is intelligent, saintly, unique, manifold, 
subtle, active, concise, pure and lucid. It cannot corrupt, loves 
what is good and nothing can restrain it; {I}23_{/}it is beneficent, 
loving humankind, steadfast, dependable, calm though almighty. It 
sees everything and penetrates all spirits, however intelligent, 
subtle and pure they may be.
{I}24_{/}Wisdom, in fact, surpasses in mobility all that moves, and 
being so pure pervades and permeates all things.
[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}She is a breath of the power of God, a pure emanation of 
the glory of the Almighty; nothing impure can enter her. 
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror 
of God's action and an image of his goodness.
[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}She is but one, yet Wisdom can do all things and, 
herself unchanging, she renews all things. She enters holy souls, 
making them prophets and friends of God, {R}_{I}28_{/}for God loves only 
those who live with Wisdom.
{I}29_{/}She is indeed more beautiful than the sun and surpasses all 
the constellations; she outrivals light, [=]_{I}30_{/}for light gives 
way to night, but evil cannot prevail against Wisdom.

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Wisdom displays her strength from one end of the earth to the 
other, ordering all things rightly.
[=]_{I}2_{/}I loved her and sought her from my youth; I strove to have 
her as my bride for I had fallen in love with her beauty.
{R}_{I}3_{/}Her nearness to God tells of her noble birth. Because the 
Lord of all has loved her, {R}_{I}4_{/}she is instructed in God's 
knowledge and chooses his works.
{I}5_{/}If we desire riches in life, what is richer than Wisdom who is 
the active cause of everything? {I}6_{/}If the intellect shows itself 
in action, still more does she who fashions everything. {I}7_{/}If you 
love righteousness, every virtue is the fruit of her labor, for 
she teaches temperance, prudence, justice, fortitude - all that is 
most valuable in life.
{I}8_{/}If someone is eager for experience, she knows what took place 
in the past and forecasts the future. She has the art of 
interpretation and knows how to solve riddles, she foresees signs 
and wonders, the end of ages and eras.
{I}9_{/}This is why I decided to have her as companion for life, 
knowing she would be a wise counselor and encourage me in times of 
worry and distress.
[=]_{I}10_{/}I thought: With her I shall have glory among the nations 
and, although young, honor among the elderly; [=]_{I}11_{/}I shall be 
found penetrating in judgment and be admired by the powerful.
{I}12_{/}If I am silent they will wait to hear me; if I speak, they 
will pay attention; though I speak at length they will put their 
hand on their lips.
[=]_{I}13_{/}Thanks to her I shall win immortality, and to those who 
come after me I shall leave an everlasting memory.
{R}_{I}14_{/}I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me. 
{I}15_{/}Terrible sovereigns will cower when they hear of my name, but 
to my people I shall show myself kind; in battle, courageous.
{I}16_{/}When I come home I shall take my rest with her, for there is 
nothing bitter in her company and no suffering in sharing life 
with her, only pleasure and joy.
{I}17_{/}Pondering over all this, I understood that I would achieve 
immortality by being united to Wisdom; {I}18_{/}I would have pure 
delight through friendship with her, inexhaustible riches in what 
she does, understanding from being in her company and renown from 
sharing her conversation. Then I set out to seek and possess her.
{I}19_{/}I had a pleasant personality even as a child and {I}20_{/}was 
good-natured or rather, being good, I had entered an undefiled 
body.
{R}_{I}21_{/}But knowing that I could only possess Wisdom if she were 
given me by God - it was a mark of intelligence to know who was 
the donor - I turned to the Lord and implored him, saying with all 
my heart: 

{N}GIVE ME YOUR WISDOM{/}

{1}9{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}God of our fathers and Lord of mercy, whose word has 
created everything and [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}who in Wisdom formed man to govern 
your creation, {I}3_{/}to rule the world in holiness and justice, 
passing sentence with right judgment,
{I}4_{/}give me Wisdom that sits beside your throne and do not reject 
me from among your children.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}For I am your servant, son of your handmaid, a weak and 
mortal man with little understanding of judgment and laws. 
{I}6_{/}Even the most perfect among the sons of men counts for 
nothing, unless he has received Wisdom that comes from you.
{R}_{I}7_{/}You have chosen me as king for your people, as judge over 
your sons and daughters.
[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}You have ordered me to build a temple on your holy 
mountain and an altar in the city where you live, in imitation of 
the holy Tent that was yours from the beginning. 
{I}9_{/}With you is Wisdom that knows your works, that was present 
when you made the world and is aware of what is pleasing in your 
eyes and what is right according to your commandments.
[=]_{I}10_{/}Send her from the holy heavens, dispatch her from your 
holy throne to work beside me so that I may know what is pleasing 
to you.
{I}11_{/}For she knows and understands everything; she will direct my 
actions with prudence and protect me with her power.
{I}12_{/}Then my deeds will please you, and I shall judge your people 
in justice and be worthy of the throne of my father.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Indeed, what man can know the intentions of God? Who can 
discern the plan of the Lord?
{I}14_{/}For human reasoning is timid, our notions misleading; {R}_{I}15_{/}a 
perishable body is a burden for the soul and our tent of clay 
weighs down the active mind.
[=]_{I}16_{/}We are barely able to know about the things of earth and 
it is a struggle to understand what is close to us; who then may 
hope to understand heavenly things?
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Who has ever known your will unless you first gave him 
Wisdom and sent down your holy spirit to him? [=]_{I}18_{/}In{I}_{/}this 
way you directed the human race on the right path; they learned 
what pleases you and were saved by Wisdom.

{C}THE WISDOM OF GOD WORKS IN HISTORY{/}

{1}10{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Wisdom protected the father of the world, the first man 
to be formed, who was created alone. {I}2_{/}She delivered him from 
his fault and gave him power to govern all things.
[=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}When a violent man turning in anger strayed from Wisdom, 
he perished in his fratricidal fury. [=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}Because of the 
violent, the earth was submerged by the flood, but Wisdom again 
saved it by piloting an upright man on a frail piece of wood.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}Again when the nations, united in evil, had been thrown 
into confusion, it was Wisdom who singled out a righteous man, 
keeping him blameless before God and steadfast, despite his pity 
for his child.
{R}_{I}6_{/}It was she who, when the godless perished, saved the 
righteous man and let him flee from the fire pouring down on the 
Five Cities. [=]_{I}7_{/}To this day the arid land, a smoking waste, 
witnesses to their perversity, for plants there bear unripe fruit 
and a pillar of salt stands as a monument to an unbelieving woman.
{I}8_{/}For having ignored Wisdom, not only were they kept from 
knowing what is good, but their ruins were left as a monument to 
their foolishness so that their failure might never be forgotten.
{I}9_{/}But Wisdom rescued her servants from their trials. 
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Along straight paths she led the upright man who fled 
from his brother's anger. She showed him God's kingdom and let him 
know the holy angels; she made him prosperous and successful in 
his toil. [=]_{I}11_{/}Wisdom stood by him against the greed of 
oppressors and made him rich.
[=]_{I}12_{/}She protected him from his enemies and saved him from the 
traps they set for him; with Wisdom he triumphed in an arduous 
struggle, learning in this way that nothing is as strong as piety.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}She did not abandon the righteous man when he was sold; 
still more she kept him free from sin. {R}_{I}14_{/}She went down into 
the cistern with him; she did not leave him in chains, but made 
him the ruler of a kingdom, giving him authority over his 
oppressors. She denounced as liars those who accused him falsely 
and gave him everlasting honor.
{I}15_{/}It was she who rescued an innocent and holy people from a 
nation of oppressors.
{R}_{I}16_{/}She entered the soul of God's servant and through him 
withstood terrible kings with signs and wonders.
[=]_{I}17_{/}To the holy people she gave the wages of their labor, 
leading them in a wonderful way, giving them shade during the day 
and the light of the stars at night.
[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}She brought them across the Red Sea, but drowned their 
enemies {I}19_{/}and later washed them ashore from the depth of the 
abyss.
[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}So the righteous looted the godless, singing hymns, 
Lord, to your holy Name, and one in heart, they gave thanks for 
your saving hand. [=]_{I}21_{/}Wisdom gives speech to the dumb and 
makes infants speak clearly.

{1}11{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Wisdom gave success to their actions through a holy 
prophet; {I}2_{/}they crossed an uninhabited wilderness and pitched 
camp in inaccessible places.
{I}3_{/}They stood up to their enemies and fought off the hostile. 
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}When they were thirsty they called on you and you gave 
them water from hard flint, from a rocky cliff, a welcome relief 
for the parched.
{I}5_{/}The same creatures you used to punish their enemies were of 
benefit to them in their trouble.
{R}_{I}6_{/}For their enemies an ever-flowing source of river water was 
polluted with blood - [=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}a stern response to the decree 
ordering the slaughter of infants. But, against all hope, you gave 
your people water in abundance, {I}8_{/}showing them by the thirst 
they suffered, how you had punished their enemies. [=]_{I}9_{/}Their 
trials were no more than merciful reproofs. Through them, your 
people learned how severely the wicked were judged and punished.
{R}_{I}10_{/}You tested them as does a father, while you examined their 
enemies like a stern king.
{I}11_{/}Their enemies suffered at the time and also later. {I}12_{/}When 
they remembered the past, theirs was a double grief and groaning. 
{I}13_{/}They came to see that it was the work of the Lord when they 
realized that their punishment had benefited the others.
{I}14_{/}Long before, they had exposed Moses; they had rejected him in 
derision; but now they admired him because of what had happened, 
and after they had suffered a thirst far different from that of 
the righteous.
[=]_{I}15_{/}Their wickedness and foolish ideas led them astray, even 
to worshiping snakes and other repugnant animals; this is why you 
sent them hordes of similar creatures, {I}16_{/}teaching them that 
punishment takes the same form as the sin.
{I}17_{/}In fact, your almighty power that created the world from 
formless matter did not lack means to unleash upon them bears and 
savage lions, [=]_{I}18_{/}or monsters freshly created, unknown and 
full of fury, breathing fire or noisily spitting smoke or flashing 
fearful sparks from their eyes, {I}19_{/}creatures not only capable of 
destroying them at a single blow but whose mere appearance could 
make them die of fright.

{N}HOW GOD CORRECTS HIS CHILDREN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}Even without this, they could have dropped dead at a 
single breath if pursued by your justice, or dispersed by the 
breath of your might; but you ordered all with measure, number and 
weight.
{I}21_{/}You are able to show your power at any moment and who can 
resist the strength of your arm? [=]_{I}22_{/}For the entire world 
lies before you, just enough to tip the scales, a drop of morning 
dew falling on the ground.
[=]_{I}23_{/}But because you are almighty, you are merciful to all; 
you overlook sins and give your children time to repent. 
[=]_{I}24_{/}You love everything that exists and hate nothing that you 
have made; had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
{I}25_{/}How could anything endure if you did not will it? And how 
could anything last that you had not willed? {I}26_{/}You have 
compassion on all because all is yours, O Lord, lover of life.

{1}12{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}In fact your immortal spirit is in all.
{I}2_{/}And so by degrees you correct those who sin, you admonish 
them, reminding them how they have strayed so that turning away 
from evil they may trust in you, Lord.
{I}3_{/}So it happened with those who once lived in your holy land. 
{I}4_{/}You hated them because of their detestable practices, their 
sorcery and unholy worship. {I}5_{/}They were used to the pitiless 
slaughter of children at the feasts in which they ate human flesh 
and blood and even bowels, while they fulfilled secret rituals.
[=]_{I}6_{/}Because these parents murdered their defenseless children, 
you wished our ancestors to destroy them, {R}_{I}7_{/}and the land 
dearest to you became the home of God's children who were worthy 
of it.
[=]_{I}8_{/}But you even showed mercy to these sinners because they 
were human beings. You sent hornets ahead of your army to 
gradually destroy them.
{I}9_{/}You could have given the wicked over to the righteous in 
battle, or destroyed them in one blow by means of savage beasts or 
with a harsh command; {I}10_{/}but in punishng them gradually you gave 
them time to repent. Nevertheless you were aware of their evil 
nature, their innate malice and how fixed they were in their ways, 
[=]_{I}11_{/}for it was a cursed race from the beginning.
In any case, it was not through fear of anyone that you left their 
sins unpunished. [=]_{I}12_{/}For who dares say to you, "What have you 
done?" Who would dare to reject your sentence? Who could reproach 
you for destroying the nations you formed? Who would dare rise 
against you in defense of the guilty?
[=]_{I}13_{/}For there is no other god besides you, one who cares for 
everyone, who could ask you to justify your judgments; {R}_{I}14_{/}there 
is no other king or sovereign who could confront you and support 
those you punish.
{I}15_{/}You are just and you rule all with justice; had you condemned 
those who should not be punished, you would have misused your 
power.
{I}16_{/}Your strength is the source of your justice and because you 
are the Lord of all, you can be merciful to everyone.
{I}17_{/}To those who doubt your sovereign power you show your 
strength and you confound the insolence of those who ignore it. 
{I}18_{/}But you, the Lord of strength, judge with prudence and govern 
us with great patience, because you are able to do anything at the 
time you want.
{I}19_{/}In this way you have taught your people that a righteous 
person must love his human fellows; you have also given your 
people cause for hope by prompting them to repent of their sin.
{I}20_{/}For if you have been careful and patient in punishing the 
enemies of your people when they deserved to die, and have given 
them a time and a place to turn from their wickedness, {I}21_{/}with 
what strict attention have you not judged your people, you who 
bound yourself to our fathers with oaths and covenants full of 
magnificent promises.
[=]_{I}22_{/}Yes, you punish us, but you punish our enemies far more 
severely to teach us when we judge others to remember your 
kindness, and when we are judged to count on your mercy.
{I}23_{/}Those who lived foolishly and wickedly, you tormented with 
their own abominations. {I}24_{/}For they had strayed into error to 
the point of{I}_{/}choosing vile and disgusting animals as gods, 
allowing themselves to be deceived like infants.
{I}25_{/}And, as to children with no sense, you sent them a punishment 
to mock them; {R}_{I}26_{/}but if they took no warning from these 
corrections, they were soon to receive a punishment worthy of God. 
{R}_{I}27_{/}In their suffering they became indignant at those animals 
they had taken as gods and who were now used to punish them. Then 
they saw clearly, and acknowledged as God, him whom before they 
had refused to know. That is{I}_{/}why they suffered the supreme 
punishment.

{N}AGAINST THOSE WHO WORSHIP IMAGES{/}

{1}13{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}The natural helplessness of men is seen in their 
ignorance of God. The experience of good things did not lead them 
to the knowledge of Him who is. They were interested in his works, 
but they did not recognize the author of them.
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Fire, wind, air, the sphere of the stars, rushing water 
and the lights in the sky were held as the rulers of the world.
{I}3_{/}If, charmed by such beauty, they took them for gods, let them 
know how far superior is their sovereign. {I}4_{/}And if they were 
impressed by their power and{I}_{/}activity, let them understand from 
this how much mightier is he who formed them. {I}5_{/}For the grandeur 
and beauty of creatures lead us to ponder on their Author, greater 
and more magnificent.
{R}_{I}6_{/}No doubt these men are not to be blamed severely, for 
possibly they strayed though they searched for God and desired to 
find him. {I}7_{/}They pondered over the created things that 
surrounded them and were captivated by the sight of such beauty.
{I}8_{/}Even so they are not to be excused, {I}9_{/}for if they were able 
to explore the world, why did they not discover first the world's 
Sovereign?
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}But unhappy, indeed, are those people who give to man-
made artifacts the title of gods! Cursed is their hope in dead 
things, objects worked in gold and silver, likenesses of animals, 
and even useless stones carved long ago!
[=]_{I}11_{/}Take a woodcutter - he fells a tree that is easy to move, 
expertly strips off all the bark and with the wood makes a utensil 
needed in daily life; {I}12_{/}he uses the bits left over as fuel for 
cooking his food and he has a good meal. {R}_{I}13_{/}Then he picks up an 
utterly useless left-over piece, all gnarled and knotted, and 
carves it in his leisure time, using his professional skill to 
give it the shape of a man or {R}_{I}14_{/}maybe of a worthless animal. 
He covers it with ochre and paints the surface red, covering all 
its blemishes.
{I}15_{/}He then makes a suitable niche for it in the wall and fastens 
it in place with iron nails.
[=]_{I}16_{/}The craftsman is careful to keep it from falling, knowing 
that it is{I}_{/}unable to help itself. It needs help because it is no 
more than an image.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Even so, when it is a matter of his marriage, his 
children and his household, the man is not ashamed to pray to this 
lifeless object. He prays for his health to something without 
strength; [=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}for life he prays to what is dead, for help he 
implores something insensitive, for a successful journey he has 
recourse to what cannot walk, {I}19_{/}for his profit, his concerns 
and success in his craft he asks help of something that has no 
skill whatever in its hands.

{1}14{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}Imagine someone who is about to set sail and cross the raging 
sea. He calls upon a piece of wood far more fragile than the boat 
that carries him.
{I}2_{/}In fact, this boat has been built with gain in mind and 
proceeds from the wisdom of the shipwright. {R}_{I}3_{/}But it is your 
providence, Father, that guides it, for you are the one who 
prepares a path through the sea and a safe way over the waves. 
{I}4_{/}By this we understand that you are able to save us from any 
danger, and even the unskilled are able to sail.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}People are the work of your wisdom and you do not want 
them to remain idle. So they trust their lives to a small plank of 
wood and cross the sea safe and sound on a raft.
[=]_{I}6_{/}At the beginning of time when proud giants perished, the 
hope of the world took refuge on a raft and, led by your hand, 
left to the world the seed of a new race. {I}7_{/}Blessed be the wood 
by which salvation was carried out!
{I}8_{/}But cursed be the idol and its maker, the idol made by human 
hands, this corruptible thing that is called a god, and the 
craftsman for having fashioned it.
{R}_{I}9_{/}They are hateful to God, both the godless and the fruit of 
his godlessness; {I}10_{/}the maker will be punished together with his 
work.
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Therefore the idols of the nations will also be judged. 
They have come to be the most abominable among the creatures of 
God. They are a stumbling block to the spirit of man, and the feet 
of the foolish are caught in the snare.
[=]_{I}12_{/}The invention of idols was the origin of licentiousness; 
when they were invented, life became corrupt. {I}13_{/}For in the 
beginning they did not exist and they will not exist forever. 
{R}_{I}14_{/}Human vanity introduced them into the world, and God has set 
a term for them.
{R}_{I}15_{/}Suppose a father, overwhelmed by grief for a child so 
swiftly taken from him, has an image made of him. From that time 
on a dead creature will be honored as a god, because the father 
handed on to his dependents secret rites and celebrations. 
{R}_{I}16_{/}Time will consolidate this unholy practice and eventually it 
will be observed by law.
It has also happened that sculptured images were venerated by 
order of sovereigns. {I}17_{/}Those who lived far away and were unable 
to honor them personally had copies made, that they might honor 
them as if present by means of their image.
{I}18_{/}The ambition of the artist helped the veneration grow among 
those who did not even know the sovereign. {I}19_{/}As he wished to 
please his master, he made the portrait more attractive than 
reality, [=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}and the people, seduced by the perfection of 
art work, began to worship someone previously honored as a man.
[=]_{I}21_{/}In this way the image became a pitfall for the living, 
for people bent down, either by misfortune or tyranny, gave to 
stones and wood the incommunicable Name.
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}But it was not enough for them to err in their knowledge 
of God; in the great trouble to which ignorance condemned them, 
they have called such an evil situation peace.
{I}23_{/}With the sacrificial murder of children in their initiations, 
with secret mysteries and wild ceremonial orgies, {I}24_{/}they no 
longer keep their lives and marriages pure; they treacherously 
murder one another or wound others through adultery.
{I}25_{/}Everywhere it is a welter of blood, murder, fraud and theft, 
corruption, treachery, riots, perjury; {I}26_{/}on all sides 
harassment of good people, forgetfulness of favors, the pollution 
of souls and sins against nature, widespread disorder in marriage, 
adultery, debauchery.
{I}27_{/}Indeed the worship of gods which do not even deserve a name, 
is the beginning, cause and effect of every evil.
{I}28_{/}Others delight in raving or uttering false prophecies; they 
live wickedly and casually perjure themselves. {I}29_{/}As they deal 
with lifeless images, they do not fear any punishment for their 
false oaths, {R}_{I}30_{/}but a double punishment awaits them: as 
idolators for their base concept of God, as frauds for taking 
false oaths in defiance of all that is holy.
{I}31_{/}Though the idols by which they swore are powerless, justice 
that pursues sinners always overtakes the sin of the wicked.

{1}15{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}But you, our God, are kind and true; you bear evil 
patiently and order everything with mercy. {I}2_{/}Even when we sin we 
belong to you and acknowledge your power, but aware that we belong 
to you, we shall not sin.
[=]_{I}3_{/}To know you is perfect righteousness and to acknowledge 
your power is the root of immortality.
{I}4_{/}So we have not been led astray by a deceptive invention of men 
- the sterile labor of painters - these idols daubed with colors, 
{R}_{I}5_{/}the sight of which stirs yearning in fools attached to the 
lifeless face of a dead image.
{I}6_{/}Really, idol-makers and those who serve and worship them are 
looking for disgrace and deserve to have false hope.
{I}7_{/}The potter, laboriously working the soft clay, fashions each 
object for our use, and from the same clay he shapes vessels, some 
for food, and others for what is thrown away. The potter makes 
vessels for both clean and unclean uses and decides to what 
purpose each one is shaped. [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}The same way and from the 
same clay he fashions a helpless god; cursed labor of a man 
recently formed from clay, who will shortly return to clay when he 
is called to give up his soul.
{R}_{I}9_{/}He has no thought of dying soon, no thought of the short 
duration of life. None at all. He competes with those who work on 
silver and gold and, like the smith, he feels proud to make a 
counterfeit of God.
{I}10_{/}Ashes, that is what his heart is; his hope cheaper than dust; 
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}his life worth as much as clay, for he has not 
acknowledged his Maker, who has breathed into him an active soul, 
a living spirit. {R}_{I}12_{/}He looks on life as a game and its duration 
a market full of bargains, for as he says, "a man must make the 
most of life whether by fair means or foul."
{R}_{I}13_{/}This man, more than others, knows that he sins in fashioning 
with the same clay, vessels and sculptured gods.
{R}_{I}14_{/}But utterly foolish and more pitiable than the soul of a 
newborn infant were the enemies that oppressed your people. 
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}They received as gods all the idols of the nations - 
idols that have no eyes to see, no nostrils to breathe the air, no 
ears to hear, no fingers to feel with, or feet that are able to 
walk. For these gods are the work of a man, a creature of borrowed 
breath made them.
[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}Man cannot even make a god that resembles himself; 
{R}_{I}17_{/}a mortal's unholy hands produce a dead god. He is, in fact, 
superior to what he worships, since he at least lives, but they 
will never live.
{I}18_{/}People worship the most repulsive animals, the most stupid of 
all who, unlike other animals, are devoid of beauty; {R}_{I}19_{/}these 
are unattractive creatures who have missed the blessing of God and 
are not fit to give him praise.

{N}HOW GOD TREATS HIS PEOPLE AND THE EGYPTIANS DIFFERENTLY{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}That is why this people received the punishment they deserved 
through similar animals and hordes of tormenting insects. 
[=]_{I}2_{/}But in contrast to this punishment it was kindness you 
showed to your people by providing quails - a delicious food - for 
them. 
{I}3_{/}As for the Egyptians, in spite of their fierce hunger, they 
were restrained by disgust from eating because of the repulsive 
sight of the creatures sent against them. But the Israelites after 
being deprived for a time were then given the finest food.
{I}4_{/}It was necessary for their oppressors to suffer severe want, 
but enough for your people to know how the enemy was punished. 
[=]_{I}5_{/}Indeed when they experienced the fury of wild animals and 
the bites of writhing snakes, your anger did not endure.
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}Their temporary affliction served as a warning; then they 
were given a sign of salvation to remind them of the prescriptions 
of your law. {I}7_{/}For whoever turned towards it was saved, not by 
the image he saw, but by you, Lord, the Savior of all.
{I}8_{/}In that way you taught our enemies that it is you who deliver 
us from every evil. [=]_{I}9_{/}They were, in fact, killed by the 
sting of insects and flies for which there was no cure since they 
deserved punishment from these creatures. {I}10_{/}Your children 
instead were not overcome, even by the fangs of venomous serpents, 
for your mercy intervened and healed them.
{I}11_{/}Bites quickly healed reminded them of your commands, lest 
they fall into deep oblivion and forget your kindness. [=]_{I}12_{/}No 
herb, no ointment healed them but your word, Lord, that heals all.
{R}_{I}13_{/}You are Lord of life and death; you bring down to the gate 
of the netherworld and bring back again. {R}_{I}14_{/}Man in his 
wickedness is able to kill but he cannot bring back the departed 
spirit or rescue the snatched soul. {I}15_{/}It is impossible to 
escape your hand.
[=]_{I}16_{/}The godless, refusing to acknowledge you, were scourged 
by the strength of your arm, lashed by relentless downpours, hail, 
and pitiless storms, and consumed by fire.
{R}_{I}17_{/}But this was the most astounding: water, powerful to quench, 
made fire burn more fiercely. For the elements fight on the side 
of the righteous.
{R}_{I}18_{/}At times the flame abated to spare the insects thrust 
against the wicked, that they might know they were pursued by 
God's sentence.
{R}_{I}19_{/}At other times, in the midst of water the flame rose more 
fiercely than fire to destroy the harvest of an unholy land.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}20_{/}But to your people you gave the food of angels and 
from heaven sent bread already prepared and suiting all tastes, 
having every flavor. {I}21_{/}In this way you revealed your loving 
kindness to your children. {I}22_{/}Satisfying all needs, this bread 
provided what each one wanted.
That food, having the appearance of snow and ice, resisted fire 
and did not melt; thus they understood how their enemy's harvest 
was destroyed by fire in the midst of hail, while lightning 
flashed in the falling rain. {I}23_{/}This same fire seemed to forget 
its own nature in order to spare the food of the righteous.
{I}24_{/}Your creation is at your service for you are its Author. It 
works to punish the wicked and withdraws for the benefit of those 
who put their trust in you.
{I}25_{/}In the service of your bounty which attends to everything, 
creation made itself manifold and adjusted to the wish of 
everyone. [=]_{I}26_{/}Then the children you love learned that it is 
not crops of whatever kind which nourish mankind, but your word 
that sustains those who trust you.
[=]_{I}27_{/}That food which resisted fire, simply melted in the 
warmth of a fleeting sunbeam, {I}28_{/}teaching us that we must rise 
before the sun to give thanks and pray to you at dawn. {R}_{I}29_{/}The 
hope of the ungrateful will melt like winter frost and flow away 
like water that is not being used.

{1}17{/}

[=]_{I}1_{/}How great are your purposes and how difficult to explain! 
People who have not learned about them have gone astray.
[=]_{I}2_{/}While the godless thought they had the holy nation in 
their power, they themselves were prisoners, captives of a long 
night, shut in under their own roofs, banished from eternal 
providence.
{R}_{I}3_{/}Although they counted on their sins remaining hidden under 
the veil of forgetfulness, they were scattered and at the same 
time dismayed and terrified by visions. {I}4_{/}The dark places where 
they sheltered could not protect them from fear, they heard 
horrific noises and were confronted with ghastly and mournful 
apparitions. {I}5_{/}No fire could give them light, while the 
sparkling radiance of the stars dared not shine on that horrible 
night. {I}6_{/}All that shone for them was an inextinguishable and 
terrifying fire and, in their terror, when this vision ended, they 
imagined their situation to be worse than it was.
{I}7_{/}Their magic arts failed and their pretence to intelligence was 
utterly confounded; {I}8_{/}those who claimed to eliminate the fear 
and disturbance of the sick mind were themselves afflicted with a 
ridiculous fear.
{I}9_{/}Although there was nothing to cause this fear, they were 
terrified by the buzz of insects and the hiss of snakes; {I}10_{/}they 
died convulsed with fear, refusing to look even at the air from 
which no one may escape. {I}11_{/}Wickedness is cowardly and is 
condemned by itself; pursued by conscience it always assumes the 
worst. {I}12_{/}For fear is no more than giving up the help that 
reason is able to give. {I}13_{/}Inasmuch as this help is lacking 
interiorly, the unknown cause of one's torments seems greater.
{I}14_{/}So all that night, a night issued from the powerless 
netherworld that took hold of them while they slept and made 
everyone powerless,{I}_15_{/}they were either pursued by monstrous 
ghosts or paralyzed by a sudden, unexpected fear. {I}16_{/}Whoever had 
fallen lay there, shut in a prison not made of iron.
{I}17_{/}Whether plowman or shepherd or someone working by himself, he 
had to submit to an inevitable fate; {R}_{I}18_{/}all were bound by the 
same chain of darkness.
Everything held them paralyzed by fear: the sighing of the wind 
and the tuneful song of the birds in spreading branches, the 
continuous noise of rushing water {I}19_{/}and the terrible crash of 
falling rocks, the swift, invisible bounding of animals and the 
terrifying roar of wild beasts, the echo rebounding from the 
mountains - all was a cause of fear.
{I}20_{/}The whole world shone in brilliant light and continued its 
work without hindrance; {I}21_{/}they alone were covered in the 
darkness of night, the image of night that would be their lot. But 
even heavier than the darkness was the burden they were for 
themselves.

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}Meanwhile, for your holy ones there was great light. The 
Egyptians heard their voice without seeing them; they called them 
fortunate because they had not suffered; {I}2_{/}they also thanked 
them, for in spite of the injustice done to them they had not 
retaliated, and asked their pardon for previous wrongs.
[=]_{I}3_{/}In contrast to this darkness, you gave your holy people a 
pillar of fire as a guide in their unmapped journey, as a mild sun 
during their glorious migration. [=]_{I}4_{/}The enemy deserved to be 
without light and imprisoned in darkness for having imprisoned 
your sons, the people through whom the imperishable light of your 
laws would be given to the world.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}They had intended to kill the infants of your holy people 
- and of those exposed only one child was saved. Because of that 
you retaliated by doing away with a multitude of their sons who 
perished together in the raging sea.
{R}_{I}6_{/}That night had been foretold to our fathers, and knowing in 
what promise they trusted, they could rejoice in all surety.
{I}7_{/}Your people waited for both the salvation of the just and the 
downfall of their enemies, {I}8_{/}for the very punishment of our 
enemies brought glory to the people you have called - that is, to 
us.
{R}_{I}9_{/}The holy race secretly offered the Passover sacrifice and 
really agreed on this worthy pact: that they would share alike 
both blessings and dangers. And forthwith they began to sing the 
hymns of their fathers.
[=]_{I}10_{/}Then came discordant echoes from their enemies: plaintive 
voices mourning their children.
{R}_{I}11_{/}The same sentence struck slave and master alike; the common 
man and the king endured equal suffering. {R}_{I}12_{/}They mourned 
together for innumerable victims, all stricken with the same kind 
of death.
The living were not enough to bury them, for the flower of their 
race had perished in an instant.
{R}_{I}13_{/}Although sorcery had turned them into unbelievers, after the 
death of their firstborn they acknowledged that your people were 
the children of God.
{I}14_{/}While all was in quiet silence and the night was in the 
middle of its course, [=]_{I}15_{/}your almighty Word leapt down from 
the Royal Throne - a stern warrior to a doomed world. 
{R}_{I}16_{/}Carrying your fearful command like a sharpened sword and 
stretching from heaven to earth, he filled the universe with 
death.
{I}17_{/}Immediately they were overwhelmed with terrible dreams and 
hallucinations and assailed by sudden fears. {R}_{I}18_{/}Thrown half-
dead, some here and some there, they made known why they were 
dying, {I}19_{/}for the dreams that had troubled them had also 
instructed them, lest they perish without knowing the reason for 
their misfortune.
{R}_{I}20_{/}Indeed the righteous, too, experienced death when a scourge 
struck a great number of them in the desert, but God's anger was 
short-lived.
{R}_{I}21_{/}A blameless man hastened to their defense. Using the weapons 
of his sacred office - prayer and atonement incense - he 
confronted the divine Wrath, putting an end to their affliction, 
and was thus recognized as your servant.
{I}22_{/}He vanquished your Wrath, but not by physical strength or by 
the force of arms. He won over the Punisher by reminding him of 
the sworn promises and covenants made with our fathers.
{R}_{I}23_{/}The dead were already piled up, one on top of the other, 
when he intervened, beating back Wrath and cutting it off from the 
living. {I}24_{/}For the whole world was represented on his flowing 
robe, the glorious names of the fathers on the four rows of 
stones, and your majesty engraved on the diadem on his head.
{I}25_{/}The Destroyer, afraid of these, recoiled; a mere taste of 
Wrath had been sufficient.

{1}19{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}Instead, a pitiless fury raged against the wicked to the very 
end, for God knew beforehand what they would do: {I}2_{/}that after 
allowing them to leave and hastening their departure, they would 
then pursue them.
{R}_{I}3_{/}While the Egyptians were still mourning at the graves of 
their dead, they had the mad idea of pursuing them as fugitives.
[=]_{I}4_{/}A well-deserved fate drove them to this extreme, making 
them forget what had happened and completing their punishment with 
further torment. {R}_{I}5_{/}While your people would experience a 
miraculous journey, their oppressors would suffer an extraordinary 
death.
{I}6_{/}All creation in its different forms was fashioned anew at your 
command, in order to protect your people. {R}_{I}7_{/}The cloud covered 
the camp with its shadow, dry land emerged where water had been. A 
safe passage was opened through the Red Sea, the tempestuous flood 
became a green plain {I}8_{/}where the whole nation of those protected 
by your hand passed across, witnessing your astounding deeds.
[=]_{I}9_{/}They were like horses led to pasture, or like frolicking 
lambs, praising you, their Lord, who had delivered them. 
[=]_{I}10_{/}For they still remembered what they had seen in their 
exile: how the earth, in place of animals, had produced 
mosquitoes, and rivers, instead of providing fish, produced frogs.
{I}11_{/}Later your people were to see a new way for birds to appear, 
for when they hungered for food, [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}quails came out of the 
sea to satisfy their need.
{I}13_{/}Punishment befell the sinners after they had been warned by 
violent thunder; deservedly they suffered for their own 
wickedness, for they had given proof of a most cruel hatred 
towards strangers.
{I}14_{/}Others had not welcomed unknown strangers, but the Egyptians 
enslaved guests who had been good to them. {I}15_{/}The former will be 
condemned for dealing badly with strangers; [=]_{I}16_{/}worse still, 
the Egyptians who had welcomed them with celebrations and treated 
them as equals, but later made them suffer cruelly.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}For this they were afflicted with blindness like the men 
of Sodom who came to the door of the righteous man Lot and found 
themselves in utter darkness, each one groping around to find his 
own door.
{I}18_{/}The elements interchanged their qualities as on a harp the 
notes change their tones while retaining their own pitch. Clearly 
this is what happened as is shown by a scrutiny of events.
{I}19_{/}Creatures living on the land became aquatic and those that 
swam emerged on dry land. {R}_{I}20_{/}Fire burned more fiercely in water 
when water ceased to quench. {I}21_{/}On another occasion flames did 
not burn frail animals that passed through them nor did they melt 
the heavenly food that normally would have melted like frost.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}22_{/}For in every way, Lord, you have exalted and 
glorified your people, never disdaining them, but standing by them 
always and everywhere.

