Wisdom of Solomon

But the ungodly were assailed by wrath without mercy to the end, for God knew in advance what they would do:

that though they themselves had agreed to let your people go and eagerly sent them on their way, they would change their minds and pursue them.

For while they were still engaged in mourning and were lamenting at the graves of their dead, they reached another foolish decision and pursued as fugitives those whom they had begged to leave.

For the fate they deserved drew them on to this end and made them forget what had happened, in order that they might fill up the punishment that their torments still lacked,

and that your people might experience an incredible journey, but those others might meet a strange death.

For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew, complying with your commands, so that your children might be kept unharmed.

The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp and dry land emerging where water had stood before, an unhindered way out of the Red Sea and a grassy plain out of the raging waves,

where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation, after gazing on marvelous wonders.

For they ranged like horses and jumped like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who delivered them.

For they still recalled the events of their sojourn, how instead of bearing animals the land brought forth gnats, and instead of fish the river spewed out vast numbers of frogs.

Later they saw also a new kind of birds when, led by their desire, they asked for luxurious food;

for, to give them relief, quails came up from the sea.

The punishments did not come upon the sinners without prior signs in the violence of thunder, for they justly suffered because of their evil deeds, for they practiced a bitter hatred toward strangers.

Others had refused to receive strangers when they came to them, but these made slaves of guests who were their benefactors.

And there is for them a certain punishment—they lost their sight as a warning—but those others, who did not care about the just, received blindness as a benefit for themselves.

But they made my people toil, those who had been strangers with them.

Therefore the Lord was not lacking in punishing them, but the elements were changed both for the punishment of the unrighteous and for the encouragement of the righteous.

For the elements changed places with one another, as on a harp the notes vary the nature of the rhythm, while each note remains the same. This may be clearly inferred from the sight of what took place.

For land animals were transformed into water creatures, and creatures that swim changed to dry land.

Fire even in water retained its normal power, and water forgot its fire-quenching nature.

Flames, on the contrary, did not consume the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them, nor did they melt the crystalline, quick-melting kind of heavenly food.

For in everything, O Lord, you have exalted and glorified your people, and you have not neglected to help them at any time or place.