6For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew,
complying with your commands,
that your children might be kept unharmed.
7The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp, and dry land emerging where water had stood before,
an unhindered way out of the Red Sea,
and a grassy plain out of the raging waves,
8where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation,
after gazing on marvelous wonders.
9For they ranged like horses,
and leaped like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who delivered them.
10For they still recalled the events of their sojourn,
how instead of producing animals the earth brought forth gnats,
and instead of fish the river spewed out vast numbers of frogs.
11Afterward they saw also a new kind of birds,
when desire led them to ask for luxurious food;
12for, to give them relief, quails came up from the sea.
13The punishments did not come upon the sinners without prior signs in the violence of thunder,
for they justly suffered because of their wicked acts;
for they practiced a more bitter hatred of strangers.
14Others had refused to receive strangers when they came to them,
but these made slaves of guests who were their benefactors.
15And not only so, but punishment of some sort
will come upon the former for their hostile reception of the aliens;
16but the latter,
after receiving them with festal celebrations,
afflicted with terrible sufferings those who had already shared the same rights.
17They were stricken also with loss of sight -
just as were those at the door of the righteous man -
when, surrounded by yawning darkness,
each tried to find the way through his own door.
18For the elements changed places with one another,
as on a harp the notes vary the nature of the rhythm,
while each note remains the same.
This may be clearly inferred from the sight of what took place.
19For land animals were transformed into water creatures,
and creatures that swim moved over to the land.
20Fire even in water retained its normal power,
and water forgot its fire-quenching nature.
21Flames, on the contrary,
failed to consume the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them,
nor did they melt the crystalline,
easily melted kind of heavenly food.
22For in everything, O Lord, you have exalted and glorified your people;
and you have not neglected to help them at all times and in all places.
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