d 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.

ECCLESIASTICUS

This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher:
because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all
virtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who
flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written
after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is received
as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by
apostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It wa