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.
9
For though no terrible thing did fear them, yet, being scared with beasts that passed by and hissing of serpents,
10
they died from fear, denying that they saw the air, which could from no side be avoided.
11
For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and, being pressed by conscience, always forecasteth grievous things.