4
The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure light of the law was to be given to the world.
5
And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just, one child being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest away a multitude of their children, and destroyedst them all together in a mighty water.
6
For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.
7
So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction of the unjust.
8
For as thou didst punish the adversaries: so thou didst also encourage and glorify us.
9
For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers.
10
But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were bewailed.
11
And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a common man suffered in like manner as the king.
12
So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. Neither were the living sufficient to bury them; for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed.
13
For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged the people to be of God.
14
For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course,