1 Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented.
2 Instead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine own people, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste, even quails to stir up their appetite:
3 To the end that they, desiring food, might for the ugly sight of the beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must needs desire; but these, suffering penury for a short space, might be made partakers of a strange taste.
4 For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should come penury, which they could not avoid: but to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented.
5 For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and they perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured not for ever:
6 But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.
7 For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.
8 And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil:
9 For them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punished by such.
10 But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.
11 For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words; and were quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness.
12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.
13 For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.
14 A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again.
15 But it is not possible to escape thine hand.
16 For the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and showers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they consumed.
17 For, which is most to be wondered at, the fire had more force in the water, that quencheth all things: for the world fighteth for the righteous.
18 For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves might see and perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of God.
19 And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above the power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an unjust land.
20 Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels’ food, and didst send them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man’s delight, and agreeing to every taste.
21 For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking.
22 But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain, did destroy the fruits of the enemies.
23 But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished.
24 For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee.
25 Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need:
26 That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee.
27 For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away:
28 That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.
29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.
Otrais pretnostatījums: sods par radības pielūgšanu un radītais kā Dieva velte
1 Tādēļ pelnīti šie ļaudis tika sodīti ar tādām radībām
un mocīti ar kukaiņiem bez skaita.
2 Turpretī savai tautai šāda soda vietā tu labu darīji:
tās negausīgās ēstdziņas sātināšanai
tu sarūpēji neierastu ēdienu, dižpaipalu,
3 lai, kamēr vieni, izbadējušies,
jebkādu ēstgribu zaudētu uzsūtītās radības pretīgā izskata dēļ,
tava tauta, izjutusi īslaicīgu trūcību,
vēl nebijušu garšu izbaudītu:
4 jo nepielūdzams trūkums bijis jāpieredz apspiedējiem,
bet viņiem – tikai ieskats, kā mocīti to naidnieki.
Trešais pretnostatījums: nāve no mušu kodumiem un glābiņš no indīgām čūskām
5 Arī tad, kad pār viņiem nāca
negantu nezvēru niknums
un tie gāja bojā no lokanu čūsku dzēlieniem,
tavas dusmas neturpinājās bezgalīgi.
6 Pārmācībai īsu brīdi šaustīti ar izbailēm,
pestīšanas zīmi viņi saņēma,
lai tavas bauslības bausli pieminētu.
7 Nevis uzlūkotais pievērsušos izglāba,
bet gan tu, visu Pestītājs,
8 kas šādi vēlējies pārliecināt mūsu naidniekus,
ka tu esi tas, kurš atbrīvo no visa ļauna.
9 Jo viņus taču nonāvēja siseņu un mušu kodieni
un nebija rodamas zāles, lai glābtu dzīvību,
tādēļ ka viņi bija pelnījuši,
lai ar tādām radībām tiktu sodīti.
10 Turpretī tavus dēlus nespēja uzveikt
pat indīgu čūsku dzēlieni,
jo tava žēlastība panācās pretī
un viņus dziedināja.
11 Tie tika sadzelti, lai atcerētos tavus baušļus,
bet tūdaļ izglābti, lai nogāztos dziļā atmiņas trūkumā
un nebūtu jāšķiras no tavas labvēlības.
12 Patiesi, ne jau augs vai ziede viņus atveseļoja,
bet gan tavs, Kungs, visus dziedinošais vārds,
13 jo vara tev pār dzīvību un nāvi –
uz mirušo valstības vārtiem lejup tu vadi un atkal augšup.
14 Turpretim cilvēks savā ļaunumā gan nonāvē,
bet nespēj nedz aizlidojošo dvašu atsaukt,
nedz no mirušo valstības dvēseli atbrīvot.
Ceturtais pretnostatījums: debesu uguns un maize no debesīm
15 Bet no tavas rokas nav iespējams izbēgt.
16 Un, tā kā bezdievīgie tevi liedzās pazīt,
ar tava delma spēku tika šaustīti:
gan vajāja tos nebijušas lietusgāzes,
krusas brāzmas, nepielūdzami negaisi,
gan deldēja uguns.
17 Tādēļ ūdenī, kas apdzēš visu,
uguns – un tas ir vispārsteidzošākais –
vēl vairāk pieņēmās spēkā,
jo Visums ir taisnīgo aizstāvis cīņā.
18 Tā dažkārt liesma pieklusa,
lai nesadegtu radījumi,
kas bija uzsūtīti bezdievīgajiem,
un viņi redzot apjaustu – tos vajā Dieva spriedums.
19 Bet citkārt, pārspējot to, ko spēj uguns,
liesma sprēgāja ūdens vidū,
lai iznīcinātu, ko radījusi netaisnā zeme.
20 Tā vietā – ar eņģeļu ēdienu tu mieloji savu tautu,
no debesīm nenogurstoši sniegdams jau gatavu maizi,
kas spēj sniegt jebkuru baudu un atbilst ikkatrai garšai,
21 jo uzturā, ko devi, atklājās tava saldme pret taviem bērniem –
kādu kuram gribējās, tādu garšu pieņēma ēdiens,
īstenodams katra saņēmēja vēlmi.
22 Sniegs un ledus izturēja ugunī un nekusa,
lai viņi zinātu, ka, krusā liesmojot,
caur lietus gāzmām zibeņojot
uguns posta naidnieka ražu,
23 bet citkārt pats aizmirst savu spēku,
lai tiktu paēdināti taisnīgie.
24 Jo kalpojot tev, Radītājam,
sasprindzina spēkus radītais, lai netaisnību sodītu,
un atslābst, labu darot tiem, kas paļaujas uz tevi.
25 Tādēļ arī toreiz, pārvēršoties par itin visu,
kā vajadzības māktie vēlējās,
tavai dāvanai, visa barotājai, kalpoja radītais,
26 lai tavi dēli, Kungs, kurus tu iemīlēji,
apzinātos, ka nevis dažādu sugu augļi baro cilvēku,
bet gan tavs vārds uztur tos, kas tev uzticas.
27 Tādēļ, viena acumirklīga saulstara sildīts,
izkusa tas, ko neiznīcināja uguns,
28 lai būtu zināms:
pirms saules lēkta jāsteidzas tev pateikties,
pie tevis jāvēršas, pirms gaisma uzlēkusi,
29 jo kā sarma ziemā izkusīs nepateicīgo cerētais
un aiztecēs kā nekam neizmantojams ūdens.
