1
For great are Thy judgments and cannot be expressed; therefore unnurtured souls have erred.
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.
3
For while they supposed in their secret sins to lie hid, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished and troubled with strange apparitions.
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.
5
No power of the fire might give them light; neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.
6
Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled by itself, very dreadful; for, being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.
7
As for the illusions of magic art, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.
8
For those, who promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves from fear, worthy to be laughed at.