CHAP. XII.
2 The mercie of God towarde sinners. 14 The workes of God are vnreprouable. 19 God giueth leasure to repent.
1 FOr thyne incorruptible Spirit is in all things.
2 Therefore thou chastnest them measurably that go wrong, and warnest thē by puttyng them in remembrance of the things where∣in they haue offended, that leauing wicked∣nes they may beleue in thee, ô Lord.
3 * As for those olde inhabitantes of the* 1.1 holy land, thou didest hate them.
4 For they committed abominable workes, as sorceries and wicked sacrifices.
5 And staying of their owne children without mercie, and eatyng of the bowels of mans flesh in banketing, where the raging Priests (shed) abominable blood.
6 And the fathers were the chief murtherers of the soules, destitute of all helpe, whome thou woldest destroye by the handes of our fathers.
7 That the land whiche thou louest aboue all other, myght be a mete dwellyng for the children of God.
8 * Neuertheles, thou sparedst them also, as* 1.2 men, and sendedst the forunners of* 1.3 thyne hoste, euen hornettes to destroye them by litle and litle.
9 Not that thou wast vnable to subdue the vn godlie vnto the righteous in battel, or with cruel beastes, or with one rough worde to destroie them together.
10 But in punishing them by litle and litle, thou gauest them space to repent, knowing wel, that it was an vnrighteous nacion and wic∣ked of nature, and that their thoght colde neuer be altered.
11 For it was a cursed sede frō the begynning: yet hast thou not spared them when they sin ned, because thou feared any man.* 1.4
12 For who dare say, * What hast thou done? or who dare stand agaynst thy iudgement? or who dare accuse thee for the naciōs that pe∣rish, whome thou haste made? or who dare stand against thee to reuēge the wicked mē?
13 For there is none other God but thou, * that* 1.5 carest for all things, that thou maist declare how that thy iudgement is not vnright.
14 There dare nether Kyng nor tyrant in thy sight require accountes of them whom thou hast punished.
15 For so muche then as thou artryghteous thy self, thou ordrest all things ryghteously,* 1.6 * thynking it not agreable to thy power to condemne hym, that hathe not deserued to be punished.
16 For thy power is the begynning of ryghte∣ousnes, and because thou art Lorde of all things, it causeth thee to spare all things.
17 When men thinke thee not to be of a per∣fite power, thou declarest thy power, and re∣prouest the boldenes of the wise.
18 But thou ruling the power, iudgest with e∣quitie, ād gouernest vs with great fauour: for thou maist shew thy power when thou wilt.
19 By suche workes now hast thou taught thy people, that a man shulde be iust and louing, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: for thou giuest repentance to sinners.
20 For if thou haste punished the enemies of thy children that had deserued death wyth so great consideration, and requesting (vnto them,) giuing them time and place that they might change from their wickednes.
21 With how great circumspection wilt thou punish thine owne children, vnto whose fa∣thers thou hast sworne and made couenant of good promises?
22 So when thou doest chasten vs, thou puni∣shed our enemies a thousand times more, to the intent that when we iudge, we shuld dili