The Koine Bible

But to your holy ones there was very great light, those whose voice they were hearing but whose form they were not seeing, because indeed they had not suffered these things, they were deeming blessed them also

because, though they had been wronged beforehand, they were giving thanks and were asking for favor that they might be separated

In place of which you gave them a pillar of fire aflame, a guide indeed of an unknown journey, but a harmless sun of glorious sojourning

For those were worthy to be deprived of light and to be imprisoned in darkness, they who had kept your sons shut in, through whom the imperishable light of the law was about to be given to the age.

But when they had resolved to kill the infants of the holy ones, and one child had been exposed and was saved, for a reproof of their own children, I took away a multitude of children, and with one accord you destroyed them in mighty water

That night was made known beforehand to our fathers, so that, having safely known the oaths in which they trusted, they might long for them

Salvation of the righteous was received by your people, but destruction of enemies was received.

For in that way you punished our adversaries, having called us to this, you glorified us

For in secret holy children were sacrificing, and they agreed on the law of divinity that the saints would alike share in the same good things and dangers, already singing beforehand praises of the fathers.

And the cry of enemies echoed back dissonantly, and the pitiable voice of mourning children was carried about.

But in the same manner both slave and master, having been punished, and the common man with the king suffering the same things

And with one accord all in one name of death had innumerable dead; for even the living were not sufficient for burying them, since for a single moment their most honored generation had been destroyed

For while they were disbelieving because of the sorceries, at the destruction of the firstborn they confessed the people to be a son of God.

For while quiet silence held all things in its course, and night in its own swift course was in the middle,

your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from royal thrones, a sharp warrior into the midst of the land of destruction, bearing your unfeigned command as a sharp sword

And standing he filled all things with death, and he touched heaven, but on earth he walked.

Then immediately visions of dreadful dreams disturbed them, and unexpected terrors came upon them

And another, having been thrown elsewhere, half-dead, was making evident the cause because of which they were dying.

For the dreams, having troubled them, foretold this, so that, not knowing why they suffer ill, they might not perish.

But the trial of death also touched the righteous, and destruction happened in the wilderness of a multitude, but the wrath remained not for long.

For a blameless man, hastening, stood in front in battle, having brought the weapon of his own ministry, prayer and propitiation of incense; he opposed the wrath and put an end to the calamity, showing that he is your servant.

But he conquered the wrath not by strength of body, not by the operation of weapons, but by a word he subjected the chastiser, having reminded him of the oaths of the fathers and the covenants

For when dead men had already fallen in heaps one upon another, he stood between and cut off the wrath and split the way to the living away from it

For upon the long robe was the whole world, and the glories of the fathers upon the four-rowed carving of stones, and your majesty upon the diadem of his head

To these the destroyer yielded, but these things he feared, for the proof of wrath alone was sufficient.