Wisdom of Solomon · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 16 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 For this cause were [these men ] worthily punished through [creatures ] like [those which they worship, ] And tormented through a multitude of vermin.
1 For this cause, they were deservedly punished through creatures like those which they worship, and tormented through a multitude of vermin.
2 Instead of which punishment, thou, bestowing benefits on thy people, Preparedst quails for food, [Food of ] rare taste, to [satisfy ] the desire of [their ] appetite;
2 Instead of this punishment, you, giving benefits to your people, prepared quails for food, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of their appetite,
3 To the end that thine enemies, desiring food, Might for the hideousness of the [creatures ] sent among them Loathe even the necessary appetite; But these, [thy people, ] having for a short space suffered want, Might even partake of [food of ] rare taste.
3 to the end that your enemies, desiring food, might for the hideousness of the creatures sent among them, loathe even the necessary appetite; but these, your people, having for a short time suffered lack, might even partake of delicacies.
4 For it was needful that upon those should come inexorable want in their tyrannous dealing, But that to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented.
4 For it was necessary that inescapable lack should come upon those oppressors, but that to these it should only be showed how their enemies were tormented.
5 For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon thy people, And they were perishing by the bites of crooked serpents, Thy wrath continued not to the uttermost;
5 For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon your people, and they were perishing by the bites of crooked serpents, your wrath didn’t continue to the uttermost;
6 But for admonition were they troubled for a short space, Having a token of salvation, To put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law:
6 but for admonition were they troubled for a short time, having a token of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of your law;
7 For he that turned toward it was not saved because of that which was beheld, But because of thee, the Saviour of all.
7 for he who turned toward it was not saved because of that which was seen, but because of you, the Savior of all.
8 Yea, and in this didst thou persuade our enemies, That thou art he that delivereth out of every evil.
8 Yes, and in this you persuaded our enemies that you are he who delivers out of every evil.
9 For them verily the bites of locusts and flies did slay, And there was not found a healing for their life, Because they were worthy to be punished by such [as these; ]
9 For the bites of locusts and flies truly killed them. No healing for their life was found, because they were worthy to be punished by such things.
10 But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame, For thy mercy passed by where they were, and healed them.
10 But your children weren’t overcome by the very fangs of venomous dragons, for your mercy passed by where they were and healed them.
11 For they were bitten, to put them in remembrance of thine oracles; And were quickly saved, lest, falling into deep forgetfulness, They should become unable to be roused by thy beneficence:
11 For they were bitten to put them in remembrance of your oracles, and were quickly saved, lest, falling into deep forgetfulness, they should become unable to respond to your kindness.
12 For of a truth it was neither herb nor mollifying plaister that cured them, But thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things;
12 For truly it was neither herb nor poultice that cured them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all people.
13 For thou hast authority over life and death, And thou leadest down to the gates of Hades, and leadest up again.
13 For you have authority over life and death, and you lead down to the gates of Hades, and lead up again.
14 But though a man [may ] slay by his wickedness, Yet the spirit that is gone forth he turneth not again, Neither giveth release to the soul that [Hades ] hath received.
14 But though a man kills by his wickedness, he can’t retrieve the spirit that has departed or release the imprisoned soul.
15 But thy hand it is not possible to escape;
15 But it is not possible to escape your hand;
16 For ungodly men, refusing to know thee, were scourged in the strength of thine arm, Pursued with strange rains and hails and showers inexorable, And utterly consumed with fire;
16 for ungodly men, refusing to know you, were scourged in the strength of your arm, pursued with strange rains and hails and relentless storms, and utterly consumed with fire.
17 For, what was most marvellous [of all, ] In the water which quencheth all things the fire wrought yet more mightily; For the world fighteth for the righteous.
17 For, what was most marvelous, in the water which quenches all things, the fire burned hotter; for the world fights for the righteous.
18 For at one time the flame lost its fierceness, That it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, But that [these ] themselves as they looked might see that they were chased through the judgement of God:
18 For at one time the flame was restrained, that it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that these themselves as they looked might see that they were chased by the judgment of God.
19 And at another time even in the midst of water it burneth above the power of fire, That it may destroy the fruits of an unrighteous land.
19 At another time even in the midst of water it burns more intensely than fire, that it may destroy the produce of an unrighteous land.
20 Instead whereof thou gavest thy people angels’ food to eat, And bread ready [for their use ] didst thou provide for them from heaven without [their ] toil, [Bread ] having the virtue of every pleasant savour, And agreeing to every taste;
20 Instead of these things, you gave your people angels’ food to eat, and you provided ready-to-eat bread for them from heaven without toil, having the virtue of every pleasant flavor, and agreeable to every taste.
21 For thy nature manifested thy sweetness toward [thy ] children; While [that bread, ] ministering to the desire of the eater, Tempered itself according to every man’s choice.
21 For your nature showed your sweetness toward your children, while that bread, serving the desire of the eater, changed itself according to every man’s choice.
22 But snow and ice endured fire, and melted not, That [men ] might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, Burning in the hail and flashing in the rains;
22 But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains;
23 And that this [element ] again, in order that righteous men may be nourished, Hath even forgotten its own power.
23 and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgotten its own power.
24 For the creation, ministering to thee its maker, Straineth its force against the unrighteous, for punishment, And slackeneth it in behalf of them that trust in thee, for beneficence.
24 For the creation, ministering to you, its maker, strains its force against the unrighteous for punishment and in kindness, slackens it on behalf of those who trust in you.
25 Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms, It ministered to thine all-nourishing bounty, According to the desire of them that made supplication;
25 Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms, it ministered to your all-nourishing bounty, according to the desire of those who had need,
26 That thy sons, whom thou lovedst, O Lord, might learn That it is not the growth of [the earth’s ] fruits that nourisheth a man, But that thy word preserveth them that trust thee.
26 that your children, whom you loved, O Lord, might learn that it is not the growth of crops that nourishes a man, but that your word preserves those who trust you.
27 For that which was not marred by fire, When it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam melted away;
27 For that which was not destroyed by fire, melted away when it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam,
28 That it might be known that [we ] must rise before the sun to give thee thanks, And must plead with thee at the dawning of the light:
28 that it might be known that we must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light;
29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt as the winter’s hoar frost, And shall flow away as water that hath no use.
29 for the hope of the unthankful will melt as the winter’s hoar frost, and will flow away as water that has no use.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"For the hope of the unthankful," saith one, "is like the winter's hoar frost;" it benumbs and deadens the soul, as that doth our bodies.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)