Wisdom 12

_3-4You hated the people who lived in your holy land long ago, because they did horrible things: they practised magic and conducted unholy worship; ₅they killed children without mercy and ate the flesh and blood of human beings. They were initiated into secret rituals ₆in which parents murdered their own defenceless children. It was your will that our ancestors should destroy those people, ₇so that the land which you consider the most precious of all lands would be a suitable home for your people. ₈But even in this you showed mercy towards their enemies, since they too were human beings. You sent hornets ahead of your army, to destroy the enemy gradually. ₉You could have allowed the righteous to destroy those ungodly people in battle; you could have wiped them out immediately with wild animals or with one harsh command. ₁₀But instead, you carried out your sentence gradually, to give them a chance to repent, even though you knew that they came from evil stock, that they had been wicked since birth, and that they would never change their way of thinking. ₁₁Their whole nation was cursed from the start, and though you had not punished them for their sins, it was not because you were afraid of anyone.

₁₂You created those wicked people, and no one can speak in their defence or condemn you for destroying them. No one can question what you have done or challenge your judgement. ₁₃All things are under your care, and there is no other god to whom you must justify your decisions. ₁₄No king or ruler on earth can accuse you of punishing those people unfairly. ₁₅You are righteous, and you rule everything righteously. You have never used your power to condemn a person who does not deserve to be punished. ₁₆Your strength is the source of justice. You can show mercy to everyone, because you are the Lord of all. ₁₇You show your strength when people doubt that your power is perfect, and you punish anyone who knows your power but dares to ignore it. ₁₈Even though you have absolute power, you are a merciful judge. You could take action against us whenever you choose, but instead, you rule us with great patience.

₁₉By the things you have done you have taught your people that a person who is righteous must also be kind. You have given your people abundant hope by allowing them to repent of their sins. ₂₀You were very careful and patient in punishing your people's enemies; even when they deserved to die, you gave them every opportunity to give up their sinful ways. ₂₁But you judged your own people very strictly, even though you had made covenants with their ancestors and had solemnly promised to give them good things.

₂₂Yes, you punish us, but you punish our enemies 10,000 times more, so that when we judge others, we may remember your goodness, and when we are being judged, we may look for mercy.

₂₃And so you tormented those who were foolish enough to live wickedly — you tormented them with the horrible things they worshipped. ₂₄They had wandered far away from the truth and worshipped the most disgusting and horrible animals. They were deceived as easily as little children. ₂₅And so you punished them for their stupidity, and your judgement made them look like fools. ₂₆It was a light punishment, but those who pay no attention to such warnings deserve to feel the full weight of God's judgement. ₂₇When they were punished with those creatures they considered gods, they became bitterly disillusioned and recognized that the true God was the one they had always refused to acknowledge. That is why they suffered the final punishment.