Wisdom of Solomon 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

12 For your immortal spirit is in all things.^(A)
²Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass,
and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,
so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord.^(B)

The Sins of the Canaanites

³Those who lived long ago in your holy land
⁴you hated for their detestable practices,
their works of sorcery and unholy rites,^(C)
⁵their merciless slaughter^[a] of children,
and their sacrificial feasting on human flesh and blood.
These initiates from the midst of a bloody revelry,^[b]^(D)
⁶these parents who murder helpless lives,
you willed to destroy by the hands of our ancestors,^(E)
⁷so that the land most precious of all to you
might receive a worthy colony of the children of God.^(F)
⁸But even these you spared, since they were but mortals,
and sent wasps^[c] as forerunners of your army
to destroy them little by little,^(G)
⁹though you were not unable to give the ungodly into the hands of the righteous in battle
or to destroy them at one blow by dread wild animals or your stern word.^(H)
¹⁰But judging them little by little you gave them an opportunity to repent,
though you were not unaware that their origin^[d] was evil
and their wickedness inborn
and that their way of thinking would never change.^(I)
¹¹For their offspring were accursed from the beginning,
and it was not through fear of anyone that you left them unpunished for their sins.^(J)

God Is Sovereign

¹²For who will say, “What have you done?”
or will resist your judgment?
Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you made?
Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the unrighteous?^(K)
¹³For neither is there any god besides you whose care is for all people,^[e]
to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly,^(L)
¹⁴nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you have punished.
¹⁵You are righteous, and you rule all things righteously,
deeming it alien to your power
to condemn anyone who does not deserve to be punished.^(M)
¹⁶For your strength is the source of righteousness,
and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.^(N)
¹⁷For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power,
and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it.^[f]^(O)
¹⁸Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge fairly,
and with great forbearance you govern us,
for you have power to act whenever you choose.^(P)

God’s Lessons for Israel

¹⁹Through such works you have taught your people
that the righteous must be kind,
and you have filled your children with good hope,
because you give repentance for sins.^(Q)
²⁰For if you punished with such great care and indulgence^[g]
the enemies of your children and those deserving of death,
granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness,^(R)
²¹with what strictness you have judged your children,^[h]
to whose ancestors you gave oaths and covenants full of good promises!^(S)
²²So while chastening us you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more,
so that when we judge we may meditate upon your goodness,
and when we are judged we may expect mercy.^(T)

The Punishment of the Egyptians

²³Therefore those who lived unrighteously, in a life of folly,
you tormented through their own abominations.^(U)
²⁴For they went far astray on the paths of error,
accepting as gods those animals that even their enemies^[i] despised;
they were deceived like foolish infants.^(V)
²⁵Therefore, as though to children who cannot reason,
you sent your judgment to mock them.
²⁶But those who have not heeded the warning of mild rebukes
will experience the deserved judgment of God.
²⁷For when in their suffering they became incensed
at those creatures that they had thought to be gods, being punished by means of them,
they saw and recognized as the true God the one whom they had before refused to know.
Therefore the utmost condemnation came upon them.^(W)

Footnotes

12.5Gk slaughterers
12.5Meaning of Gk uncertain
12.8Or hornets
12.10Or nature
12.13Or all things
12.17Meaning of Gk uncertain
12.20Other ancient authorities lack and indulgence; others read and entreaty
12.21Gk sons
12.24Gk they

Cross references