Wisdom of Solomon 16

1 Therefore the oppressors were fittingly punished by creatures like the ones they worshiped and tormented by swarms of animals. 2 Instead of this punishment, you treated your people well and prepared quail, food with an unfamiliar taste, to satisfy their eager appetite. 3 The oppressors, though craving food, were so disgusted by the creatures sent against them that they turned away even from the hunger they had to satisfy. But your people, after suffering need only briefly, shared in an unfamiliar delicacy. 4 Inescapable need had to come upon those who acted as tyrants, while your people only needed to be shown how their enemies were being tormented.

5 Even when the terrible fury of animals came upon your children and they were dying from the bites of twisting serpents, your wrath did not last to the end. 6 They were troubled only briefly as a warning. They had a sign of rescue to remind them of the command of your law. 7 Whoever turned toward it was not saved by the object he saw, but by you, the one who rescues everyone. 8 By this you convinced our enemies that you are the one who rescues from every evil.

9 The bites of locusts and flies killed them, and no remedy was found for their lives, because they deserved to be punished by such creatures. 10 But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame your children, for your mercy came to their aid and healed them. 11 They were stung to remind them of your words and quickly saved so that they would not fall into deep forgetfulness and become unable to receive your kindness. 12 Neither an herb nor a soothing ointment healed them, but your word, Lord, which heals everyone. 13 You have authority over life and death. You lead down to the gates of Hades and bring people back up. 14 A person may kill through his wickedness, but he cannot bring back the spirit once it has departed or release a soul once it has been taken.

15 But escaping your hand is impossible. 16 The ungodly who refused to acknowledge you were scourged by the strength of your arm. They were pursued by strange rains, hail, and relentless downpours, and they were consumed by fire. 17 Most astonishing of all, the fire burned more fiercely in the water that extinguishes everything, for creation fights in defense of the righteous. 18 At one time the flame became gentle so that it would not burn the animals sent against the ungodly, but so the people themselves could see and understand that God’s judgment was pursuing them. 19 At another time the fire blazed in the midst of water with more than its natural power, so that it could destroy the produce of an unrighteous land.

20 In place of these things, you fed your people with messengers’ food and gave them bread ready from heaven without labor, able to provide every delight and suit every taste. [a] 21 The food you provided revealed your sweetness toward your children. Serving the desire of the person eating it, the food changed into whatever flavor each one wanted. 22 Snow and ice endured the fire without melting, so that they might know that fire blazing in the hail and flashing in the rain destroyed their enemies’ crops. 23 Yet this fire again forgot even its own power so that the righteous might be fed.

24 Creation serves you, its Maker. It exerts its strength to punish the unrighteous and relaxes it to benefit those who trust in you. 25 Therefore at that time also, creation changed into every form and served your gift that nourishes all, according to the desire of those in need. 26 This happened so that your children, whom you loved, Lord, might learn that crops do not feed a person; rather, your spoken word preserves those who trust in you. 27 What the fire could not destroy melted at once when warmed by a brief ray of sunlight. 28 In this way it became clear that we must rise before the sun to give you thanks and pray to you at daybreak. 29 The hope of an ungrateful person will melt like winter frost and flow away like useless water.