1For your immortal spirit is in all things.

2Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass,

and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,

so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord.

The Sins of the Canaanites

3Those who lived long ago in your holy land

4you hated for their detestable practices,

their works of sorcery and unholy rites,

5their merciless slaughter12.5 Gk slaughterers of children,

and their sacrificial feasting on human flesh and blood.

These initiates from the midst of a heathen cult,12.5 Meaning of Gk uncertain

6these parents who murder helpless lives,

you willed to destroy by the hands of our ancestors,

7so that the land most precious of all to you

might receive a worthy colony of the servants12.7 Or children of God.

8But even these you spared, since they were but mortals,

and sent wasps12.8 Or hornets as forerunners of your army

to destroy them little by little,

9though you were not unable to give the ungodly into the hands of the righteous in battle,

or to destroy them at one blow by dread wild animals or your stern word.

10But judging them little by little you gave them an opportunity to repent,

though you were not unaware that their origin12.10 Or nature was evil

and their wickedness inborn,

and that their way of thinking would never change.

11For they were an accursed race from the beginning,

and it was not through fear of anyone that you left them unpunished for their sins.

God Is Sovereign

12For who will say, ‘What have you done?’

or will resist your judgement?

Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you made?

Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the unrighteous?

13For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people,12.13 Or all things

to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly;

14nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you have punished.

15You are righteous and you rule all things righteously,

deeming it alien to your power

to condemn anyone who does not deserve to be punished.

16For your strength is the source of righteousness,

and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.

17For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power,

and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it.12.17 Meaning of Gk uncertain

18Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness,

and with great forbearance you govern us;

for you have power to act whenever you choose.

God's Lessons for Israel

19Through such works you have taught your people

that the righteous must be kind,

and you have filled your children with good hope,

because you give repentance for sins.

20For if you punished with such great care and indulgence12.20 Other ancient authorities lack and indulgence; others read and entreaty

the enemies of your servants12.20 Or children and those deserving of death,

granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness,

21with what strictness you have judged your children,

to whose ancestors you gave oaths and covenants full of good promises!

22So while chastening us you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more,

so that, when we judge, we may meditate upon your goodness,

and when we are judged, we may expect mercy.

The Punishment of the Egyptians

23Therefore those who lived unrighteously, in a life of folly,

you tormented through their own abominations.

24For they went far astray on the paths of error,

accepting as gods those animals that even their enemies12.24 Gk they despised;

they were deceived like foolish infants.

25Therefore, as though to children who cannot reason,

you sent your judgement to mock them.

26But those who have not heeded the warning of mild rebukes

will experience the deserved judgement of God.

27For when in their suffering they became incensed

at those creatures that they had thought to be gods, being punished by means of them,

they saw and recognized as the true God the one whom they had before refused to know.

Therefore the utmost condemnation came upon them.