1 As for the ungodly, wrath came upon them without mercy unto the end: for he knew before what they would do;

1 Impiis autem usque in novissimum
sine misericordia ira supervenit.
Præsciebat enim et futura illorum:

2 How that having given them leave to depart, and sent them hastily away, they would repent and pursue them.

2 quoniam cum ipsi permisissent ut se educerent,
et cum magna sollicitudine præmisissent illos,
consequebantur illos, pœnitentia acti.

3 For whilst they were yet mourning and making lamentation at the graves of the dead, they added another foolish device, and pursued them as fugitives, whom they had intreated to be gone.

3 Adhuc enim inter manus habentes luctum,
et deplorantes ad monumenta mortuorum,
aliam sibi assumpserunt cogitationem inscientiæ,
et quos rogantes projecerant,
hos tamquam fugitivos persequebantur.

4 For the destiny, whereof they were worthy, drew them unto this end, and made them forget the things that had already happened, that they might fulfil the punishment which was wanting to their torments:

4 Ducebat enim illos ad hunc finem digna necessitas;
et horum quæ acciderant commemorationem amittebant,
ut quæ deerant tormentis repleret punitio:

5 And that thy people might pass a wonderful way: but they might find a strange death.

5 et populus quidem tuus mirabiliter transiret,
illi autem novam mortem invenirent.

6 For the whole creature in his proper kind was fashioned again anew, serving the peculiar commandments that were given unto them, that thy children might be kept without hurt:

6 Omnis enim creatura ad suum genus ab initio refigurabatur,
deserviens tuis præceptis,
ut pueri tui custodirentur illæsi.

7 As namely, a cloud shadowing the camp; and where water stood before, dry land appeared; and out of the Red sea a way without impediment; and out of the violent stream a green field:

7 Nam nubes castra eorum obumbrabat,
et ex aqua quæ ante erat, terra arida apparuit,
et in mari Rubro via sine impedimento,
et campus germinans de profundo nimio:

8 Wherethrough all the people went that were defended with thy hand, seeing thy marvellous strange wonders.

8 per quem omnis natio transivit quæ tegebatur tua manu,
videntes tua mirabilia et monstra.

9 For they went at large like horses, and leaped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.

9 Tamquam enim equi depaverunt escam,
et tamquam agni exsultaverunt,
magnificantes te, Domine, qui liberasti illos.

10 For they were yet mindful of the things that were done while they sojourned in the strange land, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes.

10 Memores enim erant adhuc eorum
quæ in incolatu illorum facta fuerant:
quemadmodum pro natione animalium eduxit terra muscas,
et pro piscibus eructavit fluvius multitudinem ranarum.

11 But afterwards they saw a new generation of fowls, when, being led with their appetite, they asked delicate meats.

11 Novissime autem viderunt novam creaturam avium,
cum, adducti concupiscentia, postulaverunt escas epulationis.

12 For quails came up unto them from the sea for their contentment.

12 In allocutione enim desiderii ascendit illis de mari ortygometra:
et vexationes peccatoribus supervenerunt,
non sine illis quæ ante facta erant argumentis per vim fulminum:
juste enim patiebantur secundum suas nequitias.

13 And punishments came upon the sinners not without former signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behaviour toward strangers.

13 ¶ Etenim detestabiliorem inhospitalitatem instituerunt:
alii quidem ignotos non recipiebant advenas;
alii autem bonos hospites in servitutem redigebant.

14 For the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved of them.

14 Et non solum hæc, sed et alius quidam respectus illorum erat,
quoniam inviti recipiebant extraneos.

15 And not only so, but peradventure some respect shall be had of those, because they used strangers not friendly:

15 Qui autem cum lætitia receperunt hos
qui eisdem usi erant justitiis,
sævissimis afflixerunt doloribus.

16 But these very grievously afflicted them, whom they had received with feastings, and were already made partakers of the same laws with them.

16 Percussi sunt autem cæcitate:
sicut illi in foribus justi,
cum subitaneis cooperti essent tenebris,
unusquisque transitum ostii sui quærebat.

17 Therefore even with blindness were these stricken, as those were at the doors of the righteous man: when, being compassed about with horrible great darkness, every one sought the passage of his own doors.

17 In se enim elementa dum convertuntur,
sicut in organo qualitatis sonus immutatur,
et omnia suum sonum custodiunt:
unde æstimari ex ipso visu certo potest.

18 For the elements were changed in themselves by a kind of harmony, like as in a psaltery notes change the name of the tune, and yet are always sounds; which may well be perceived by the sight of the things that have been done.

18 Agrestia enim in aquatica convertebantur,
et quæcumque erant natantia, in terram transibant.

19 For earthly things were turned into watery, and the things, that before swam in the water, now went upon the ground.

19 Ignis in aqua valebat supra suam virtutem,
et aqua extinguentis naturæ obliviscebatur.

20 The fire had power in the water, forgetting his own virtue: and the water forgat his own quenching nature.

20 Flammæ e contrario corruptibilium animalium
non vexaverunt carnes coambulantium,
nec dissolvebant illam, quæ facile dissolvebatur sicut glacies, bonam escam.
In omnibus enim magnificasti populum tuum, Domine,
et honorasti, et non despexisti,
in omni tempore et in omni loco assistens eis.

21 On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of the corruptible living things, though they walked therein; neither melted they the icy kind of heavenly meat, that was of nature apt to melt.

22 For in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, and glorify them, neither didst thou lightly regard them: but didst assist them in every time and place.