Wisdom 18:12-22

12 There were too many dead bodies to count. There were not enough people left to bury them all. In a single moment their dearest children died; all of them met death in the same way.
13 These people had paid no attention to any warning, but relied instead on their magical powers. But when their first-born sons were killed, then they recognized that Israel was God's son.
14 The short night was half over, and all was quiet and peaceful,
15 when suddenly your threats were carried out! An invincible word of judgment sped from your royal throne in heaven, straight down to that doomed land. It came like a soldier in fierce attack,
16 carrying out your firm command with a fearful weapon, standing with feet on the ground and head touching the sky, filling the land with death.
17 At that moment the people who were about to die had terrible nightmares and were seized by sudden fear.
18 All over the land they lay half-dead and let it be known why they were dying.
19 They knew why they were dying, because their horrible dreams had told them.
20 Death also came to the righteous nation, for an epidemic struck many of them while they were in the desert, but your anger did not last long. 1
21 There was a certain blameless man who quickly took action to defend them. Acting as their priest, Aaron offered prayers and burned the incense used in asking forgiveness of sins. With prayers and incense as his weapons, he withstood your anger and ended the disaster. By doing this he proved that he was your servant.
22 He overcame the bitter difficulty, but not by his own strength or by military force. Instead, he used prayer to stop the punishment, appealing to the promises you solemnly gave to our ancestors.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 18.20-25Numbers 16.41-50.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Probable text] bitter difficulty; [Greek] crowd.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.