1Therefore, they were justly punished by similar things, and tormented by a multitude of creatures.
2In place of this punishment, you acted kindly toward your people; for their craving appetite, you prepared quail as food, an exotic taste.
3so that the former, though desiring food, might turn away from even their necessary appetite because of the loathsome sight of the creatures sent upon them, while the latter, after being in need for a short time, might partake of an exotic taste.
4For it was necessary for an inescapable want to come upon those tyrants, but for these it was only necessary to be shown how their enemies were being tormented.
5For even when the terrible fury of beasts came upon them and they were perishing from the bites of writhing serpents, your wrath did not last to the end.
6Instead, they were troubled for a short time as a warning, having a symbol of salvation to remind them of the commandment of your law.
7For whoever turned to it was not saved by what he saw, but by you, the Savior of all.
8And in this you also convinced our enemies that you are the one who delivers from all evil.
9For the bites of locusts and flies killed them, and no cure was found for their lives, because they deserved to be punished by such things.
10But your sons, not even the fangs of venomous serpents could overcome, for your mercy came to their aid and healed them.
11For they were bitten to remind them of your words and were quickly saved, so that they would not fall into deep forgetfulness and become unresponsive to your kindness.
12For it was neither herb nor poultice that cured them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all things.
13For you have authority over life and death; you lead down to the gates of Hades and lead up again.
14A person in his wickedness can kill, but he cannot bring back the departed spirit, nor can he release a soul that has been taken.
15But it is impossible to escape your hand.
16For the ungodly who refused to know you were scourged by the strength of your arm, pursued by strange rains, hail, and relentless downpours, and consumed by fire.
17For the most paradoxical thing was this: in the water that quenches all things, the fire burned even more fiercely, for the cosmos is a champion for the righteous.
18For at one time the flame was tamed so that it would not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that they, seeing this, might know they were being pursued by the judgment of God.
19And at another time it blazed even in the midst of water, with a power greater than fire, in order to destroy the produce of an unrighteous land.
20Instead of these things, you fed your people with the food of angels, and sent them bread from heaven, ready without labor, able to give every pleasure and suited to every taste.
21For your substance revealed your sweetness to your children, and serving the desire of the one who ate, it was changed into whatever anyone wished.
22But snow and ice endured fire and did not melt, so that they might know that it was fire—blazing in the hail and flashing in the rain—that destroyed the crops of the enemies.
23This same fire, on the other hand, forgot its own power, so that the righteous might be fed.
24For creation, serving you its Maker, exerts itself for punishment against the unrighteous, and relaxes into kindness for those who trust in you.
25Therefore at that time also, it served your all-nourishing gift, changing into all things according to the will of those in need.
26so that your sons, whom you loved, O Lord, might learn that it is not the growing of crops that nourishes a person, but your word that sustains those who believe in you.
27For that which was not destroyed by fire melted when simply warmed by a faint ray of the sun,
28so that it might be known that one must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must petition you at the dawning of the light.
29For the hope of an ungrateful person will melt like winter frost and flow away like useless water.
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