Wisdom of Solomon

17:1 For great are thy Iudgements, and cannot be expressed: therefore vnnourtured soules haue erred.

17:1 For great are thy judgments, and cannot be expressed: therefore unnurtured souls have erred.

17:2 For when vnrighteous men thought to oppresse the holy nation: they being shut vp in their houses, the prisoners of darkenesse, and fettered with the bondes of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternall prouidence.

17:2 For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they being shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness, and fettered with the bonds of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternal providence.

17:3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sinnes, they were scattered vnder a darke vaile of forgetfulnesse, being horribly astonished, and troubled with (strange) apparitions.

17:3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.

17:4 For neither might the corner that helde them keepe them from feare: but noises (as of waters) falling downe, sounded about them, and sadde visions appeared vnto them with heauie countenances.

17:4 For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear: but noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them, and sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.

17:5 No power of the fire might giue them light: neither could the bright flames of the starres endure to lighten that horrible night.

17:5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.

17:6 Onely there appeared vnto them a fire kindled of it selfe, very dreadfull: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse then the sight they saw not.

17:6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.

17:7 As for the illusions of arte Magicke, they were put downe, and their vaunting in wisedome was reprooued with disgrace.

17:7 As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.

17:8 For they that promised to driue away terrours, and troubles from a sicke soule, were sicke themselues of feare worthy to be laughed at.

17:8 For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at.

17:9 For though no terrible thing did feare them: yet being skared with beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,

17:9 For though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared with beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,

17:10 They died for feare, denying that they saw the ayre, which could of no side be auoided.

17:10 They died for fear, denying that they saw the air, which could of no side be avoided.

17:11 For wickednesse condemned by her owne witnesse, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, alwayes forecasteth grieuous things.

17:11 For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth grievous things.

17:12 For feare is nothing else, but a betraying of the succours which reason offereth.

17:12 For fear is nothing else but a betraying of the succours which reason offereth.

17:13 And the expectation from within being lesse, counteth the ignorance more then the cause which bringeth the torment.

17:13 And the expectation from within, being less, counteth the ignorance more than the cause which bringeth the torment.

17:14 But they sleeping the same sleepe that night which was indeed intolerable, and which came vpon them out of the bottomes of ineuitable hell:

17:14 But they sleeping the same sleep that night, which was indeed intolerable, and which came upon them out of the bottoms of inevitable hell,

17:15 Were partly vexed with monstrous apparitions, and partly fainted, their heart failing them: for a suddaine feare and not looked for, came vpon them.

17:15 Were partly vexed with monstrous apparitions, and partly fainted, their heart failing them: for a sudden fear, and not looked for, came upon them.

17:16 So then, whosoeuer there fell downe, was straitly kept, shut vp in a prison without yron barres.

17:16 So then whosoever there fell down was straitly kept, shut up in a prison without iron bars,

17:17 For whether hee were husbandman, or shepheard, or a labourer in the field, he was ouertaken, and endured that necessitie, which could not be auoided: for they were all bound with one chaine of darkenesse.

17:17 For whether he were husbandman, or shepherd, or a labourer in the field, he was overtaken, and endured that necessity, which could not be avoided: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness.

17:18 Whether it were a whistling winde, or a melodious noise of birdes among the spreading branches, or a pleasing fall of water running violently:

17:18 Whether it were a whistling wind, or a melodious noise of birds among the spreading branches, or a pleasing fall of water running violently,

17:19 Or a terrible sound of stones cast downe, or a running that could not be seene of skipping beasts, or a roaring voice of most sauage wilde beasts, or a rebounding Eccho from the hollow mountaines: these things made them to swoone for feare.

17:19 Or a terrible sound of stones cast down, or a running that could not be seen of skipping beasts, or a roaring voice of most savage wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the hollow mountains; these things made them to swoon for fear.

17:20 For the whole world shined with cleare light, and none were hindered in their labour.

17:20 For the whole world shined with clear light, and none were hindered in their labour:

17:21 Ouer them onely was spread an heauie night, an image of that darkenesse which should afterwards receiue them: but yet were they vnto themselues more grieuous then the darkenesse.

17:21 Over them only was spread an heavy night, an image of that darkness which should afterward receive them: but yet were they unto themselves more grievous than the darkness.