Wisdom in the Wilderness
Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 1. Wisdom prospered their works by the hand of a holy prophet. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 2. They traveled through an uninhabited desert And pitched their tents in impassable places. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 3. They held their ground in wars And defended themselves against their enemies. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 4. They thirsted and called upon You, And water was given them from a flinty rock, And a quenching of thirst from a hard stone; Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 5. For through the things by which their enemies were punished, They themselves when in need Had kindness shown to them. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 6. In place of a spring of an ever-flowing river, Troubled and defiled with blood, Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 7. In rebuke of the decree to slay the infants— You gave them abundant water unexpectedly, Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 8. Showing through their thirst at that time How You punished their enemies. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 9. For when they were tested, Though they were disciplined in mercy, They learned how the ungodly were tormented When judged in wrath. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 10. For You tested them, admonishing them like a father, But You examined the ungodly Like a severe king passing sentence. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 11. Whether present or absent, They were likewise consumed, Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 12. For twofold grief possessed them And a groaning over the memory of all that happened. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 13. For when they heard that through their own punishments The holy people had kindness shown to them, They understood it was the Lord's doing. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 14. For they marveled at the outcome of the man They had cast out mockingly and exposed long before, For they did not thirst for godliness as do the righteous. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 15. In return for the wrongdoing of their senseless reasoning, In which they were led astray And worshiped irrational serpents and worthless animals, You sent upon them a multitude of animals in vengeance, Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 16. So they might learn that one is punished By the things by which he sins. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 17. For Your all-powerful hand, Which created the world out of unformed matter, Did not lack the resource to send upon them A multitude of bears or bold lions, Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 18. Or newly created unknown beasts full of anger, Either snorting a breath of fire Or scattering like chaff a thick cloud of smoke, Or flashing terrible sparks from their eyes. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 19. Not only could their damage utterly destroy men, But their mere outward appearance could terrify and kill them. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 20. Even without these, men could fall in a single breath When they are pursued by justice And scattered like chaff by the breath of Your power; But You have ordered all things by measure, number, and weight.
The God Who Loves Mankind
Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 21. For great power is always present with You, And who can oppose the might of Your arm? Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 22. Because the entire world before You Is like a small additional weight on scales, And like a drop of dew early in the morning That falls on the ground. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 23. But You are merciful to all, for You can do all things; And You overlook the sins of men to bring them to repentance. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 24. For You love all the things that exist, And You detest nothing of the things You made; For You would not even make anything You hated. Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 25. How could anything continue to exist unless You willed it? Or how could anything be preserved Unless it was called into existence by You? Wisdom of Solomon 11, verse 26. You spare all things, because they are Yours, O Master who love human beings.