Sirach 2

1 Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also the very sight might kill them through fear. 2 Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight. 3 For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall resist the strength of thy arm? 4 For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho earth. 5 But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance. 6 For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it. 7 And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be preserved, if not called by thee? 8 But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls. 10 O how good and sweet is thy Spirit, O Lord, in all things! 11 And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in thee, O Lord. 12 For those ancient inhabitants of thy holy land, whom thou didst abhor, 13 Because they did works hateful to thee by their sorceries, and wicked sacrifices, 14 And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters of men’s bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy consecration, 15 And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless souls, it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents, 16 That the land which of all is most dear to thee, might receive a worthy colony of the children of God. 17 Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little. 18 Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by war, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at once: