1. Therefore they were fittingly punished by similar creatures,and were tormented by a swarm of insects.
2. Instead of this punishment, you benefited your peoplewith a novel dish, the delight they craved,by providing quail for their food,
3. So that those others, when they desired food,should lose their appetite even for necessities,since the creatures sent to plague them were so loathsome,While these, after a brief period of privation,partook of a novel dish.
4. For inexorable want had to come upon those oppressors;but these needed only to be shown how their enemies were being tormented.
5. For when the dire venom of beasts came upon themand they were dying from the bite of crooked serpents,your anger endured not to the end.
6. But as a warning, for a short time they were terrorized,though they had a sign of salvation, to remind them of the precept of your law.
7. For the one who turned toward it was saved,not by what was seen,but by you, the savior of all.
8. By this also you convinced our foesthat you are the one who delivers from all evil.
9. For the bites of locusts and of flies slew them,and no remedy was found to save their livesbecause they deserved to be punished by such means;
10. But not even the fangs of poisonous reptiles overcame your children,for your mercy came forth and healed them.
11. For as a reminder of your injunctions, they were stung,and swiftly they were saved,Lest they should fall into deep forgetfulnessand become unresponsive to your beneficence.
12. For indeed, neither herb nor application cured them,but your all-healing word, O Lord!
13. For you have dominion over life and death;you lead down to the gates of Hades and lead back.