to be punished.

12:16. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art
Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all.

12:17. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be
absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know
thee not.

12:18. 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.

12:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be
just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope:
because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins.

12:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that
deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place
whereby they might be changed from their wickedness:

12:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to
whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises?

12:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies
very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy
goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.

12:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their
life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they
worshipped.

12:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error,
holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among beasts,
living after the manner of children without understanding.

12:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless
children, to mock them.

12:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions,
experienced the worthy judgment of God.

12:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very
things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same,
they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that
they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon
them.

Wisdom Chapter 13

Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods
the works of the hands of men.

13:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God:
and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him
that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the
workman:

13:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air,
o