Wisdom of Solomon 17:3-16
-
3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.
-
4 For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear: but noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them, and sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.
-
5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.
-
6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.
-
7 As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.
-
8 For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at.
-
9 For though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared with beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,
-
10 They died for fear, denying that they saw the air, which could of no side be avoided.
-
11 For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth grievous things.
-
12 For fear is nothing else but a betraying of the succours which reason offereth.
-
13 And the expectation from within, being less, counteth the ignorance more than the cause which bringeth the torment.
-
14 But they sleeping the same sleep that night, which was indeed intolerable, and which came upon them out of the bottoms of inevitable hell,
-
15 Were partly vexed with monstrous apparitions, and partly fainted, their heart failing them: for a sudden fear, and not looked for, came upon them.
-
16 So then whosoever there fell down was straitly kept, shut up in a prison without iron bars,