Wisdom 11
11
1She prospered their works in the hand of a holy #See Deut. 18.15,18 & 34.10.prophet.
2 #
Ex. 16.1. See Deut. 32.10. They journeyed through a desert without inhabitant,
And in trackless regions they pitched their tents.
3 # See Ex. 17.10-13. They withstood enemies, and #11.3 Or took vengeance on foesrepelled foes.
4They thirsted, and they called upon thee,
And #See Ex. 17.6.there was given them water out of #11.4 Or the steep rockthe #Deut. 8.15. Ps. 114.8.flinty rock,
And healing of their thirst out of the hard stone.
5For by what things their foes were punished,
By these they in their need were benefited.
6 # 11.6 The text of this verse is perhaps corrupt. When the enemy were troubled #Ex. 7.17.with clotted blood instead of a river's ever-flowing fountain,
7To rebuke #ch. 18.5. Ex. 1.22.the decree for the slaying of babes,
Thou gavest them abundant water beyond all hope,
8Having shewn them by #11.8 Gr. the then thirst.the thirst which they had suffered #Cp. Ex. 7.20.how thou didst punish the adversaries.
9 # Cp. ch. 16.3,4. For when they were tried, albeit but in mercy chastened,
They learned how the ungodly were tormented, being judged with wrath:
10For these, #See Deut. 8.5.as a father, #ch. 16.6.admonishing them, thou didst prove;
But those, as a stern king, condemning them, thou didst search out.
11Yea and whether they were far off from the righteous or near them, they were alike distressed;
12For a double grief took hold on them,
And a groaning at the remembrance of things past.
13For when they heard that through their own punishments the others #11.13 Some authorities read were being.had been benefited,
# Cp. ch. 16.8 & Ex. 8.8,19. They felt the presence of the Lord;
14For him who long before #ch. 18.5. Ex. 2.3.was #11.14 Some authorities read cast forth in hatred they.cast forth and exposed they left off mocking:
In the last issue of what came to pass #11.14 Or they marvelled at himthey marvelled,
Having thirsted in another manner than the righteous.
15But in requital of #Rom. 1.21,23.the senseless imaginings of their unrighteousness,
# ch. 13.14 & 15.18. Wherein they were led astray to worship irrational reptiles and wretched vermin,
# See ch. 16.1. Thou didst send upon them a multitude of irrational creatures for vengeance;
16 # See ch. 12.23,27. That they might learn, that by what things a man sinneth, by these he is punished.
17For thine all-powerful hand,
That created the world out of #Gen. 1.2.formless matter,
# Cp. ch. 12.9. Lacked not means to send upon them #Cp. Lev. 26.22 & Jer. 8.17 & Ecclus. 39.30.a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,
18Or #11.18 Some authorities read unknown wild beasts, full of new-created rage.new-created wild beasts, #Cp. ch. 16.5.full of rage, of unknown kind,
Either breathing out a blast of fiery breath,
# Cp. Job 41.19,20. Or blowing forth from their nostrils noisome smoke,
Or flashing dreadful sparkles from their eyes;
19Which had power not only to consume them by their #11.19 Gr. harmfulness.violence,
But to destroy them even by the terror of their sight.
20Yea and without these might they have fallen by a single breath,
Being pursued by #ch. 14.31. Acts 28.4.Justice, and scattered abroad by the breath of thy power.
#
2 Esd. 4.36,37. Cp. Ecclus. 16.25. But by measure and number and weight thou didst order all things.
21For to be greatly strong is thine at all times;
And #2 Chr. 20.6.the might of thine arm who shall withstand?
22Because the whole world before thee is #Is. 40.15.as #11.22 Gr. that which just turneth.a grain #11.22 Gr. from.in a balance,
And #Cp. Hos. 6.4 & 13.3.as a drop of dew that at morning cometh down upon the earth.
23But #Ecclus. 18.13.thou hast mercy on all men, because thou hast power to do all things,
And #Acts 17.30.thou overlookest the sins of men #2 Pet. 3.9.to the end they may repent.
24For #Ps. 145.9.thou lovest all things that are,
And abhorrest none of the things which thou didst make;
For never wouldest thou have formed anything if thou didst hate it.
25And how would anything have endured, except thou hadst willed it?
Or that which was not #Cp. Rom. 4.17.called by thee, how would it have been preserved?
26But #Cp. ch. 12.16.thou sparest all things, because they are thine,
O Sovereign Lord, #Cp. ch. 12.8.thou lover of men's #11.26 Or soulslives;
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Wisdom 11: RV1895
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historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society