The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Kapitel 12 -

God’s wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites.

O how good and sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, in all things!

And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in thee, O Lord.

For those ancient inhabitants of thy holy land, whom thou didst abhor,

Because they did works hateful to thee by their sorceries, and wicked sacrifices,

And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters of men’s bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy consecration,

And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless souls, it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents,

That the land which of all is most dear to thee might receive a worthy colony of the children of God.

Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps, forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little.

Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by war, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at once:

But executing thy judgments by degrees thou gavest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a wicked generation, and their malice natural, and that their thought could never be changed.

For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou for fear of any one give pardon to their sins.

For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done? or who shall withstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger of wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which thou hast made?

For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly.

Neither shall king, nor tyrant in thy sight inquire about them whom thou hast destroyed.

For so much then as thou art just, thou orderest all things justly: thinking it not agreeable to thy power, to condemn him who deserveth not to be punished.

For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all.

For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know thee not.

But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity; and with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou wilt.

But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: because in judging thou givest place for repentance for sins.

For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place whereby they might be changed from their wickedness:

With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to whose parents thou hast sworn and made covenants of good promises?

Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.

Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them who in their life have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they worshipped.

For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding.

Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them as senseless children to mock them.

But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions, experienced the worthy judgment of God.

For seeing with indignation that they suffered by those very things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same, they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon them.

God’s wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites.

For your incorruptible spirit is in all things.

Therefore you convict little by little those who fall from the right way, and, putting them in remembrance by the things wherein they sin, you admonish them, that escaping from their wickedness they may believe in you, O Lord.

For truly the old inhabitants of your holy land,

hating them because they practiced detestable works of enchantments and unholy rites—

merciless slaughters of children and sacrificial banquets of men’s flesh and of blood—

allies in an impious fellowship, and murderers of their own helpless babes, it was your counsel to destroy by the hands of our fathers;

that the land which in your sight is most precious of all might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants.(a)

Nevertheless you even spared these as men, and you sent hornets(b) as forerunners of your army, to cause them to perish little by little.

Not that you were unable to subdue the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle, or by terrible beasts or by a stern word to make away with them at once,

but judging them little by little you gave them a chance to repent, not being ignorant that their nature by birth was evil, their wickedness inborn, and that their manner of thought would never be changed.

For they were a cursed seed from the beginning. It wasn’t through fear of any that you left them unpunished for their sins.

For who will say, “What have you done?” Or “Who will withstand your judgment?” Who will accuse you for the perishing of nations which you caused? Or who will come and stand before you as an avenger for unrighteous men?

For there isn’t any God beside you that cares for all, that you might show that you didn’t judge unrighteously.

No king or prince will be able to confront you about those whom you have punished.

But being righteous, you rule all things righteously, deeming it a thing alien from your power to condemn one who doesn’t deserve to be punished.

For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all makes you to forbear all.

For when men don’t believe that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, and in dealing with those who think this, you confuse their boldness.

But you, being sovereign in strength, judge in gentleness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for the power is yours whenever you desire it.

But you taught your people by such works as these, how the righteous must be kind. You made your sons to have good hope, because you give repentance when men have sinned.

For if on those who were enemies of your servants(c) and deserving of death, you took vengeance with so great deliberation and indulgence, giving them times and opportunities when they might escape from their wickedness,

with how great care you judged your sons, to whose fathers you gave oaths and covenants of good promises!

Therefore while you chasten us, you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more, to the intent that we may ponder your goodness when we judge, and when we are judged may look for mercy.

Therefore also the unrighteous that lived in a life of folly, you tormented through their own abominations.

For truly they went astray very far in the ways of error, Taking as gods those animals(d) which even among their enemies were held in dishonor, deceived like foolish babes.

Therefore, as to unreasoning children, you sent your judgment to mock them.

But those who would not be admonished by mild correction will experience the deserved judgment of God.

For through the sufferings they were indignant of, being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods, they saw and recognized as the true God him whom they previously refused to know. Therefore also the result of extreme condemnation came upon them.

Fußnoten

(a)12:7 Or, children

(b)12:8 Or, wasps

(d)12:24 Gr. living creatures:and so elsewhere in this book.