Wisdom

Everyone carries your incorruptible breath.

The Canaanites

And so, gradually, you correct those who sin; you admonish them, reminding them how they have strayed so that, turning away from evil, they may trust in you, Lord.

It happened with those who once lived in your holy land.

You hated them because of their detestable practices, their sorcery, and unholy worship.

They were used to the pitiless slaughter of children at the feasts, where they ate human flesh and blood, even bowels, while secretly performing rituals.

Because these parents murdered their defenseless children, you wished our ancestors to destroy them,

and the land you cherish became the home of your worthy children.

But you also showed mercy to these sinners because they are human beings. You sent hornets ahead of your army to destroy them gradually.

You could have handed the wicked over to the righteous in battle, or destroyed them all at once with savage beasts or a harsh command;

but in your mercy, you gave them time to repent. Still, you knew their evil nature, their inherent malice, and how fixed they were in their ways,

for they were a cursed race from the beginning. In any case, it was not out of fear that you left their sins unpunished.

Who dares say to you, “What have you done?” Who would dare to reject your judgment? Who could reproach you for destroying the nations you created? Who would dare defend the guilty?

For there is no other god besides you, one who cares for everyone; no one can ask you to justify your judgments.

There is no other king or ruler who can confront you or support those you punish.

You are just, and you rule all with justice; if you condemned those who shouldn’t be punished, you would misuse your power.

Your strength is the source of your justice, and because you are the Lord of all, you can be merciful to everyone.

To those doubting your sovereign power, you show your strength and confound the arrogant who ignore it.

But you, the Lord of strength, judge with wisdom and govern us with great patience because you can do anything at the moment you decide.

In this way, you’ve taught your people that a righteous person must love their fellow human beings; you’ve also given them hope by encouraging them to repent from their sins.

For if you’ve been careful and patient in punishing your enemies when they deserved to die, and have given them time and place to turn from wickedness,

how much more attentive have you been in judging your own people, who have entered into oaths and covenants filled with glorious promises with our ancestors.

Mocking Judgment

Yes, you punish us, but you punish our enemies far more severely to teach us to remember your kindness when we judge others, and to rely on your mercy when we are judged.

Those who lived foolishly and wickedly, you tormented with their own evil deeds.

For they had strayed into error, choosing vile and disgusting animals as gods and allowing themselves to be deceived like infants.

And, like children with no sense, you sent them punishment to mock them;

but if they did not take warning from these corrections, they would soon face a punishment worthy of God.

In their suffering, they became angry at those animals they had taken as gods, who were now used to punish them. Then they saw clearly and acknowledged the true God, whom they had previously refused to know. That is why they endured the ultimate punishment.