For this cause were these men worthily punished through creatures like those which they worship,

2 Instead of which punishment, thou, bestowing benefits on thy people,

3 To the end that thine enemies, desiring food,

4 For it was needful that upon those should come inexorable want in their tyrannous dealing,

5 For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon thy people,

6 But for admonition were they troubled for a short space,

7 For he that turned toward it was not saved because of that which was beheld,

8 Yea, and in this didst thou persuade our enemies,

9 For them verily the bites of locusts and flies did slay,

10 But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame,

11 For they were bitten, to put them in remembrance of thine oracles;

12 For of a truth it was neither herb nor mollifying plaster that cured them,

13 For thou hast authority over life and death,

14 But though a man may slay by his wickedness,

15 But thy hand it is not possible to escape;

16 For ungodly men, refusing to know thee, were scourged in the strength of thine arm,

17 For, what was most marvelous of all,

18 For at one time the flame lost its fierceness,

19 And at another time even in the midst of water it burneth above the power of fire,

20 Instead whereof thou gavest thy people angels’ food to eat,

21 For thy nature manifested thy sweetness toward thy children;

22 But snow and ice endured fire, and melted not,

23 And that this element again, in order that righteous men may be nourished,

24 For the creation, ministering to thee its maker,

25 Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms,

26 That thy sons, whom thou lovedst, O Lord, might learn

27 For that which was not marred by fire,

28 That it might be known that we must rise before the sun to give thee thanks,

29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt as the winter’s hoar frost,