12:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins. 12:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place whereby they might be changed from their wickedness: 12:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises? 12:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy. 12:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they worshipped. 12:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding. 12:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless children, to mock them. 12:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions, experienced the worthy judgment of God. 12:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same, they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon them. Wisdom Chapter 13 Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods the works of the hands of men. 13:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman: 13:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world. 13:3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things. 13:4. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they: 13:5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby. 13:6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him. 13:7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen. 13:8. But then again they are not to be pardoned. 13:9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?