12. For whether absent or present, they were tortured alike.
13. For they had received double: weariness and groaning in the remembrance of things past.
14. For when they paid attention to their punishments, to attend to their own benefit, they called to mind the Lord, admiring the end result.
15. For though they showed scorn by throwing out distorted statements, in the end they were amazed at the result, but this is not the same as thirsting for justice.
16. For according to the thinking of their irrational iniquity, because some, going astray, were worshiping mute serpents and worthless beasts, you sent upon them a multitude of mute beasts for vengeance,
17. so that they might know that by whatever things a man sins, by the same also is he tormented.
18. For it was not impossible for your all-powerful hand, which created the world from unknown material, to send forth upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,
19. or, in anger, beasts of a new kind, massive and strange, either breathing out a fiery vapor, or sending forth an odorous smoke, or shooting horrible sparks from their eyes;
20. whereby, not only wounds would be able to destroy them, but also the very sight would kill them through fear.
21. Yet, even without these, they could have been killed with one breath, suffering persecution of their own making and being scattered by your spirit of virtue; but you have ordered all things in size and number and weight.
22. Though many are strong, you alone always overcome. And who will withstand the strength of your arm?
23. For, like a tiny grain on a scale, just so is the world before you, and like a drop dew before dawn, which descends upon the earth.