Wisdom 16:1–9
1For this cause, they were deservedly punished through creatures like those which they worship, and tormented through a multitude of vermin.↗
2Instead of this punishment, you, giving benefits to your people, prepared quails for food, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of their appetite,↗
3to the end that your enemies, desiring food, might for the hideousness of the creatures sent among them, loathe even the necessary appetite; but these, your people, having for a short time suffered lack, might even partake of delicacies.↗
4For it was necessary that inescapable lack should come upon those oppressors, but that to these it should only be showed how their enemies were tormented.↗
5For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon your people, and they were perishing by the bites of crooked serpents, your wrath didn’t continue to the uttermost;↗
6but for admonition were they troubled for a short time, having a token of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of your law;↗
7for he who turned toward it was not saved because of that which was seen, but because of you, the Savior of all.↗
8Yes, and in this you persuaded our enemies that you are he who delivers out of every evil.↗
9For the bites of locusts and flies truly killed them. No healing for their life was found, because they were worthy to be punished by such things.↗
Source: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain. Text is taken directly from the source. Headings are editorial, not biblical verses.
Languages: English public-domain source is available throughout all 73 books. Slovenian and German Scripture editions will be published only after their precise source texts are verified; we do not substitute machine-written translations.