16 And because of the foolish thoughts of their iniquity, whereby they in error served dumb creeping things, and contemptible monsters, thou hast sent upon them a multitude of dumb beasts as punishment,

17 that they may know that wherewith a man sins, he is punished.

18 It would not have been impossible for Thy almighty hand, which made the world of formless matter, to send upon them a multitude of bears or fierce lions,

19 or unknown newly-created fierce beasts, or breathing fire breath, or spewing clouds of smoke, or casting terrible sparks from their eyes,

20 Who were not only able to destroy them by damage, but also to destroy them with a terrifying appearance.

21 And even without this, they might have perished by a single breath, pursued by justice, and scattered by the spirit of thy power; but Thou hast arranged all things by measure, number, and weight.

22 For great power is always inherent in you, and who can resist the power of your arm?

23 The whole world is before Thee as the shaking of a cup of scales, or as a drop of morning dew descending upon the earth.

24 Thou hast mercy on all, because Thou canst do all things, and Thou coverest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

25 Thou lovest all things that exist, and despise nothing that thou hast made, for thou wouldst not have created if thou hadst hated anything.

26 And how could anything abide if Thou didst not will? Or how would that which Thou hast not called be preserved?

27 But Thou hast spared all things, because all things are Thine, O soul-loving Lord.

Chapter 12

1 Thy incorruptible spirit abides in all things.