10
You tested your people, as parents test their children, to warn them. But you judged their enemies like a stern king and condemned them.
11
They suffered, whether they were near your people or far from them.
12
Their sorrow was doubled; they groaned as they looked back on what had happened.
13
When they learned that their punishment had been of benefit to your people, they realized that it was your work, Lord.
14
The Egyptians had refused to have anything to do with that man who, long before as a baby, had been thrown out and exposed; but as things worked out, they came to be amazed at him. The righteous never suffered a thirst like theirs.
15
Their wickedness misled them into silly ideas, so that they worshiped snakes and other disgusting animals, creatures without any powers of reason. Because of this, you punished them with millions of such animals,
1
16
and taught them that punishment for sin takes the same form as the sin itself.
17
Your almighty power, Lord, created the world out of material that had no form at all. You could easily have punished those people by sending an invasion of bears or savage lions.
18
You could have created new and terrible animals, that could breathe fire or roar and send out clouds of smoke, or shoot out fearful sparks from their eyes.
19
You could have made animals like these that would not have to attack those people to kill them, but could scare them to death just by looking at them.
20
But this was not necessary. You could have pursued them with your justice or struck them dead at the slightest hint of your power. But you have chosen to measure, count, and weigh everything you do.