13
For whereas they would not believe any thing by reason of the enchantments, upon the destruction of the first-born they acknowledged this people to be the sons of God.
14
For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in the midst of her swift course,
15
Thine almighty word leaped down from heaven out of Thy royal throne, as a fierce man of war into the midst of a land of destruction,
16
and brought Thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword and, standing up, filled all things with death; and it touched the heaven, but it stood upon the earth.
17
Then suddenly visions of horrible dreams troubled them sorely, and terrors came upon them unlooked for.
18
And one thrown here and another there, half dead, showed the cause of his death.
19
For the dreams that troubled them showed this beforehand, lest they should perish and not know why they were afflicted.
20
Yea, the tasting of death touched the righteous also, and there was a destruction of the multitude in the wilderness; but the wrath endured not long.
21
For then the blameless man made haste and stood forth to defend them, and, bringing the shield of his proper ministry, even prayer and the propitiation of incense, set himself against the wrath and so brought the calamity to an end, declaring that he was Thy servant.
22
So he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body nor force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished, alleging the oaths and covenants made with the fathers.
23
For when the dead had now fallen down by heaps one upon another, standing between, he stayed the wrath, and cut off the way to the living.