9
For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.
10
For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes.
11
And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led by their appetite they asked for delicate meats.
12
For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness.
13
For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any: others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them.
14
And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: for the others against their will received the strangers.
15
But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with joy, and who lived under the same laws.
16
But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and every one sought the passage of his own door.
17
For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight.
18
For the things of the land were turned into things of the water: and the things before swam in the water passed upon the land.
19
The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water forgot its quenching nature.