For thy incorruptible Spirit is in all things: Therefore, by all thy works, thou dost correct them that are surprised: and by the things wherein they sin, thou admonishest them, and puttest them in remembrance of the things by which they should flee from malice, and believe in thee, O Lord. For this cause hast thou sent the wasp upon these as an army of young children, to be a scoff, because they did not learn, not to be admonished in such manner by a scoff, they tasted the punishment worthy of God.

By this thou didst teach thy people that the just must be merciful, and gavest thy sons a good hope, because in time of sin thou grantest repentance.

For thou hatedst the old inhabitants of thy holy land,

Because they did works worthy of hatred, by means of thy sorceries, and wicked sacrifices,

And also those merciless murderers of children, and eaters of men's bowels, and devourers of blood, who in the midst of thy worship,

And out of the midst of thy adoration, have chosen to destroy by the hands of our fathers those parents, killers of souls without remedy;

That the land which is most dear to thee of all lands, might receive a worthy habitation of the children of God.

Nevertheless even those thou didst spare as men, and didst send wasps, forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little.

Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the dominion of the just by battle, or by the terrible beasts, or by three words suddenly to destroy them:

But executing thy judgments by degrees thou gavest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that their generation is evil, and their malice ingrafted, and that their thinking cannot be changed forever.

For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou pardon them for fear of any man's judgment.

For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done? or who shall withstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger of wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which thou hast made?

For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that thou shouldest shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly.

Neither shall king, nor tyrant in thy sight inquire about them whom thou hast destroyed.

For so much then, as thou art just, thou orderest all things justly: thinking it not agreeable to thy power, to condemn him that deserveth not to be punished.

For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art Lord of all, thou art merciful to all.

For when men will not believe that thou art of perfect power, thou shewest thy strength, and when they know it, thou convincest their bold resistance.

But thou, being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou wilt.

For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy children, and the debtors of death, with such deliberation, giving them time and place whereby to escape from wickedness:

With what circumspection hast thou judged thy children, to whose parents thou hast sworn and made covenants of good promises?

Therefore while thou dost chastise us, thou scourgest our enemies very often, to the intent that when we judge, we may think on thy goodness; and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.

Wherefore also they that lived foolishly and wickedly, thou didst torment by their own abominations.

For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, holding for gods things that are the most contemptible among the animals, deceiving themselves as senseless children.

For when they endured the torments of their indignation, seeing those things which they honored as gods, to be avenged by them, they knew the true God whom they denied, and therefore they were punished by the last torment.