17
2 For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they being shut up in their houses, the
prisoners of darkness, and fettered with the bonds of a long night, lay
there exiled from the eternal providence.
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,
11 For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, always
forecasteth grievous things.
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.
17 For whether he were husbandman, or shepherd, or a labourer in the field, he was overtaken, and endured
that necessity, which could not be avoided: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness.
18 Whether it were a whistling wind, or a melodious noise of birds among the spreading branches, or a pleasing
fall of water running violently,