Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 1. For Your immortal Spirit is in all things. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 2. For this reason You correct little by little those who fall away, And You remind and warn them of the sins they commit So they may be freed from evil and believe in You, O Lord.
The Canaanites’ Vice
Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 3. For You hated the inhabitants of Your holy land long ago, Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 4. Because they practiced very hateful works of sorcery and unholy rites. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 5. These unmerciful murderers of children Who ate sacrificial meals of human flesh and blood, These initiates in the midst of an orgy, Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 6. These parents and murderers of helpless children— You willed to destroy by the hands of our fathers, Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 7. That the land most precious of all to You Might be a worthy colony of the servants of God. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 8. But even these You spared, since they were men, And sent wasps as forerunners of Your army That You might destroy them little by little. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 9. You were not powerless to give the ungodly To the righteous in regular battle, Or to destroy them by terrible wild beasts Or by one severe word; Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 10. But judging them little by little You gave them a chance for repentance, For You were not unaware that their generation was evil, Their vice implanted, And their reasoning would not change forever. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 11. For they were an accursed seed from the beginning, Nor did You give them amnesty for their sins Because You feared anyone.
God Our King
Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 12. For who will say, “What have You done?” Or who will oppose Your judgment? Who will bring a charge against You For destroying the nations You made? Or who will stand before You To plead as an advocate for unrighteous men? Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 13. For neither is there any god except You, Whose care is for all things, So You may show that You do not judge unjustly; Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 14. Nor can any king or tyrant meet You face to face Concerning those You punish. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 15. You are righteous and order all things uprightly, And You consider it alien to Your power To pass sentence on him who should not be punished. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 16. For Your strength is the origin of righteousness, And it causes You who are the Lord of all to spare all. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 17. For to him who disbelieves the perfection of Your power, You show forth Your strength And rebuke the insolence among those who know it. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 18. But You who gain the mastery by Your strength Judge with gentleness, For You govern us with great forbearance; And power is present with You to use when You will it.
God Chastens His Children
Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 19. Through such works You taught Your people That the righteous man should love mankind; And You made Your children hopeful By offering them repentance over their sins. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 20. For if You punished the enemies of Your children And those liable to death with so much attention and deliberation, And granted them time and opportunity to depart from their evil, Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 21. With how much strictness did You judge Your children, To whose fathers You gave oaths and covenants of good promises? Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 22. So then You chastened us, But our enemies with ten thousand whips, That we may care about Your goodness when we judge But expect Your mercy when we are judged.
The Egyptians Were Judged
Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 23. Therefore those who lived unjustly in their foolishness of life You tormented by means of their own abominations. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 24. For they went far astray on the paths of error, Taking up gods which were despised even among their enemies, Being deceived after the manner of foolish children. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 25. Therefore to those thoughtless children You sent Your judgment to mock them; Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 26. But those who were not warned by this light gesture of censure Will be put to the test by the deserved judgment of God. Wisdom of Solomon 12, verse 27. For when they suffered, they were indignant At those they imagined to be gods, Realizing they were being punished because of them. They also came to recognize the true God Whom they refused to know long ago; Therefore, the utmost of condemnation came upon them.