Catholic Public Domain Version

Wisdom 16:11-22 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

11. For, in remembrance of your words, they were examined and were quickly saved, for forgetfulness is not engraved into your altar so that they would be unable to obtain your help.

12. And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.

13. For it is you, O Lord, who holds the power of life and death; you both lead to the threshold of death and you restore.

14. Yet man, indeed, kills his own soul through malice, and when his spirit goes forth, it will not be returned, nor will he call back his soul when it has been received.

15. But it is impossible to escape your hand.

16. For the impious, having refused to know you, have been scourged by the strength of your arm, enduring persecution by unusual waters, and by hailstorms, and by rain storms, and being consumed by fire.

17. For there was something extraordinary in water, which extinguishes all things; it has prevailed more than fire; for the world is the defender of the just.

18. Indeed, at a certain time, the fire was subdued, so as not to burn away the animals, which were sent against the impious; and so that, in seeing this, they might know that they are suffering persecution by the judgment of God.

19. And, at another time, fire burned, beyond its own power, in the midst of water, and it flared up from all around, so as to destroy the nations of an unjust land.

20. Instead of these things, you nourished your people with the food of angels, and, having prepared bread from heaven, you served them without labor that which holds within itself every delight and the sweetness of every flavor.

21. For your nature showed your sweetness, which you hold within your sons, and serving the will of each one, it was converted to what each one preferred.

22. But snow and ice held back the strength of fire, and did not melt, so that they might know that fire, burning in the hail and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.