But for Thy saints there was a great light: and they heard their voices, but saw not their forms, and esteemed them happy, because they suffered not such things as themselves; for each of them had countless dead, who died a singular death, so that the living sufficed not to bury the dead; for in a moment the dearest of them were destroyed.

And they gave thanks that they were not harmed by those who had afflicted them, and implored forgiveness of their enmity against them; for a blameless man made haste to protect them, armed with the weapon of his service, which is prayer and atonement with incense; and he resisted the wrath and removed the plague, so it was known that he was thy servant.

And in like manner for these thou didst prepare a pillar of fire as a guide in a way they knew not, a sun for that noble hospitality without harm.

But for those, it was fitting that they should lose the light and be held in darkness, because they had held thy children captive.

And when they conspired to slay the infants of the saints, and one of them was exposed and then delivered, thou didst punish them by the destruction of a multitude of their children, and then thou didst destroy them all in the deep water.

And that night was foretold to our fathers, so that their souls might be gladdened by their sure knowledge of the portions in which they trusted.

So thy people obtained salvation for the righteous, and destruction for their enemies.

For that which thou didst use to punish them that resisted, was that which drew us to thee and glorified us.

For the saints, the children of the righteous, secretly offered sacrifice, and imposed upon themselves this law of God, that the saints should equally partake in joy and sorrow, and they chanted the praises of the fathers.

And the enemies raised a clamor of voices with weeping and lamentation for their children.

And there was one judgment upon the servant and the master, and one stroke fell upon the people and the king.

And after they had refused to believe anything because of sorcery, they confessed at the destruction of the firstborn that the people were the Son of God.

And when everything was enveloped in silent peace, and the night was in the midst of its swift course,

Thy all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal thrones, upon the desolate earth, as a fierce warrior.

And a sharp sword went forth, executing thy irrevocable decree; and it stood and filled every place with slain, whose head was in heaven and feet on earth.

Then visions of dreams terribly troubled them, and sudden terrors overcame them.

And every one, as he fell between life and death, declared why he died.

For the dreams that disquieted them informed them of this, lest they should perish without knowing the cause of their destruction.

And also the righteous were touched by the trial of death, and the plague fell upon a multitude of them in the wilderness, but the wrath did not long endure.

For he overcame the multitude, not by bodily strength nor by works of weaponry, but by word he restrained the punisher, reminding him of the oaths and covenants with the fathers.

For while the dead were falling in heaps, he stood in the midst and averted the wrath and cut off the path to the living.

For on his robe was the whole world, and the glorious names of the fathers engraved in four rows of precious stones, and thy majesty upon the crown of his head.

To these the Destroyer submitted and feared, and the mere experience of wrath sufficed.