1 But to thy saints there was very great light, and their voice indeed they heard, but figure they saw not. And because themselves also did not suffer by the same things, they magnified thee:
1 But ¹thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not suffer the same things, they glorified thee:
2 and they that before had been hurt, because they were not hurt, gave thanks: and that there might be a difference, they asked a gift.
2 And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a difference.
3 For the which cause they had a burning pillar of fire for a guide of the unknown way, and thou gavest them the sun without hurt of a good harbour.
3 ²Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a good entertainment.
4 They indeed worthy to lack light, and to suffer the prison of darkness, which kept thy children shut up, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law began to be given to the world.
4 The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure light of the law was to be given to the world.
5 When they decreed to kill the infants of the just: and one child being laid forth, and delivered, thou to the reproving of them, didst take away a multitude of children, and destroyedst them together in the mighty water.
5 ³And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a multitude of their children, ⁴and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty water.
6 For that night was known before of our fathers, that they knowing indeed what oaths they had credited, might be of better comfort.
6 For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.
7 And by thy people indeed the health of the just was received, but destruction by the unjust.
7 So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction of the unjust.
8 For as thou didst hurt the adversaries: so us also thou didst magnify, provoking us.
8 For as thou didst punish the adversaries so thou didst also encourage and glorify us.
9 For the just children of the good sacrificed secretly, and disposed the law of justice in concord: that the just should receive both good & evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers.
9 For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers.
10 But there sounded a disagreeing voice of the enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the bewailed infants.
10 But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were bewailed.
11 And the servant with the master was afflicted with like punishment, and a man of the vulgar sort suffered the like things to the king.
11 ⁵And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a common man suffered in like manner as the king.
12 All therefore alike by one name of death had dead ones innumerable. For neither did the living suffice to bury them: because in one moment, that which was the nobler nation of them, was destroyed.
12 So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed.
13 For concerning all things being incredulous because of the enchantments, but then first when there was destruction of the first-begotten, they promised to be the people of God.
13 For whereas they would not believe anything before by reason of the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged the people to be of God.
14 For when quiet silence contained all things, and the night was in the mid-way of her course,
14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course,
15 thy omnipotent word sallying out of heaven from the royal seats, lighted as a severe conqueror upon the midst of the land of destruction,
15 Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction,
16 a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and standing filled all with death, and reached even to heaven standing on the earth.
16 With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth, reached even to heaven.
17 Then incontinent the visions of naughty dreams troubled them, and fears unlooked for came upon them.
17 Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears unlooked for came upon them.
18 And one here another there cast forth half alive, shewed for what cause of death he died.
18 And one thrown here, another there, half dead, showed the cause of his death.
19 For the visions that troubled them, forewarned these things, that they might not perish as ignorant why they suffered evils.
19 For the visions that troubled them foreshowed these things, lest they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils.
20 But then there touched the just also a tentation of death, and a disturbance of the multitude was made in the wilderness: but thy wrath did not long continue.
20 But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy wrath did not long continue;
21 For a man without blame hastening to pray for the people, bringing forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense alleging supplication, resisted the wrath, and made an end of the necessity, shewing that he is thy servant.
21 ⁶For a blameless man made haste to pray for the people, bringing forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, showing that he was thy servant.
22 And he overcame the multitudes, not in strength of body, nor with might of armour, but with a word subdued he him that vexed him, rehearsing the oaths of the parents, and the testament.
22 And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, alleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers.
23 For when they were now fallen dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between, and cut off the violence, and separated that way which leadeth to the living.
23 For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to the living.
24 For in the vesture down to the foot, which he had, was all the world: and the glorious things of the fathers were graven in the four jewels of stones, & thy magnificence was written in the diadem of his head.
24 ⁷For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head.
25 And to these he that destroyed gave peace, & these did he fear: for the proof only of wrath was sufficient.
25 And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for the proof only of wrath was enough.