The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 25: Wisdom
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Wisdom Chapter 16
God's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.
16:1. For these things, and by the like things to these, they were
worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.
16:2. Instead of which punishment, dealiug well with thy people, thou
gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing
for them quails for their meat:
16:3. To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those
things that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which
was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want
for a short time, tasted a new meat.
They indeed desiring food, etc... He means the Egyptians; who were
restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and the
flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their meats.-Ibid.
But these... Viz., the Israelites.
16:4. For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon
them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how
their enemies were destroyed.
16:5. For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were
destroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents.
16:6. But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a
short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put them
in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.
Sign of salvation... The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our
Saviour.
16:7. For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but
by thee, the Saviour of all.
16:8. And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who
deliverest from all evil.
16:9. For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there
was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be
destroyed by such things.
16:10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy
children: for thy mercy came and healed them.
16:11. For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were
quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be
able to use thy help.
16:12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed
them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.
16:13. For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and
leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:
16:14. A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone
forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is
received:
16:15. But it is impossible to escape thy hand:
16:16. For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the
strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and
rain, and consumed by fire.
16:17. And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all
things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.
The fire had more force... Viz., when the fire and hail mingled together
laid waste the land of Egypt. Ex. 9.
16:18. For at one time the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which
were sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might
see, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.
16:19. And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the
midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.
16:20. Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the food
of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without labour;
having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.
16:21. For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and
serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.
16:22. But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that
they might know that the fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the
rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.
16:23. But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even
forget its own strength.
16:24. For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce
against the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for
the benefit of them that trust in thee.
16:25. Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was
obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of
them that desired it of thee:
16:26. That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it
is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word
preserveth them that believe in thee.
16:27. For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with
a little sunbeam, presently melted away:
16:28. That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun
to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.
16:29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's
ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.
Wisdom Chapter 17
The Egyptian darkness.
17:1. For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be
expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.
17:2. For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the
holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness,
and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the
eternal providence.
17:3. And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were
scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly afraid,
and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.
17:4. For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for
noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them,
affrighted them.
17:5. And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the
bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.
17:6. But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being
struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the
things which they saw to be worse:
17:7. And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their
boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.
17:8. For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick
soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.
17:9. For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with
the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear
and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.
17:10. For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its
condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous
things.
17:11. For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from
thought.
17:12. And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth
it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.
17:13. But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done,
and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the
same sleep,
17:14. Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes
fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for
fear was come upon them.
17:15. Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in
prison without irons.
17:16. For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in
the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which
he could not fly.
17:17. For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness.
Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among
the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with
violence,
17:18. Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that
could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of
wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these
things made them to swoon for fear.
17:19. For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and none
were hindered in their labours.
17:20. But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that
darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more
grievous than the darkness.
Wisdom Chapter 18
The slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron's
intercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core.
18:1. But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice
indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not
suffer the same things, they glorified thee:
18:2. And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they
were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a
difference.
18:3. Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of
the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a
good entertainment.
A harmless sun... A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that
should be an agreeable guest to them.
18:4. The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and
imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure
light of the law was to be given to the world.
18:5. And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child
being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a
multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty
water.
One child... Viz., Moses.
18:6. For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly
knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.
18:7. So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction
of the unjust.
18:8. For as thou didst punish the adversaries so thou didst also
encourage and glorify us.
18:9. For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice
secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just
should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the
fathers.
Of good men... Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites,
offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were
regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and
most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies.
18:10. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the
enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were
bewailed.
18:11. And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a
common man suffered in like manner as the king.
18:12. So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death.
Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the
noblest offspring of them was destroyed.
The noblest offspring... That is, the firstborn.
18:13. For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of
the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, they
acknowledged the people to be of God.
18:14. For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in
the midst of her course,
18:15. Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne,
as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction,
18:16. With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he
stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth,
reached even to heaven.
18:17. Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears
unlooked for came upon them.
18:18. And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause
of his death.
18:19. For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest
they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils.
18:20. But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death,
and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy
wrath did not long continue;
18:21. For a blameless man made haste to pry for the people, bringing
forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making
supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity,
shewing that he was thy servant.
18:22. And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with
force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them,
alleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers.
18:23. For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon
another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to
the living.
18:24. For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and
in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, and
thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head.
18:26. And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them:
for the proof only of wrath was enough.
Wisdom Chapter 19
Why God shewed no mercy to the Egyptians. His favour to the Israelites.
All creatures obey God's orders for the service of the good, and the
punishment of the wicked.
19:1. But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath
without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do:
19:2. For when they had given them leave to depart and had sent them
away with great care, they repented and pursued after them.
19:3. For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of
the dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as
fugitives whom they had pressed to be gone:
19:4. For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this
end: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened,
that their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments:
19:5. And that thy people might wonderfully pass through, but they might
find a new death.
19:6. For every creature, according to its kind was fashioned again as
from the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might be
kept without hurt.
19:7. For a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before,
dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hindrance, and out
of the great deep a springing field:
19:8. Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy
hand, seeing thy miracles and wonders.
19:9. For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like
lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.
19:10. For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in
the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies instead
of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of
fishes.
19:11. And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led
by their appetite, they asked for delicate meats.
19:12. For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the
sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs
by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their
own wickedness.
19:13. For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any:
others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought
their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them.
19:14. And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: for
the others against their will received the strangers.
19:15. But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with
joy, and who lived under the same laws.
19:16. But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the
doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and
every one sought the passage of his own door.
19:17. For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an
instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their
sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight.
Elements are changed, etc... The meaning is, that whatever changes God
wrought in the elements by miracles in favour of his people, they still
kept their harmony by obeying his will.
19:18. For the things of the land were turned into things of the water:
and the things that before swam in the water passed upon the land.
19:19. The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water
forgot its quenching nature.
19:20. On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of corruptible
animals walking therein, neither did they melt that good food, which was
apt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst magnify thy people, O
Lord, and didst honour them, and didst not despise them, but didst
assist them at all times, and in every place.
That good food... The manna.