16 ¹⁵ To escape from your hand is impossible;
16 ¹⁶ for the ungodly, refusing to know you,
were scourged by the strength of your arm,
pursued by unusual rains and hail and relentless storms,
and utterly consumed by fire.
16 ¹⁷ For - most incredible of all - in the water,
which quenches all things,
the fire had still greater effect,
for the universe defends the righteous.
16 ¹⁸ At one time the flame was restrained,
so that it might not consume the creatures sent against the ungodly,
but that seeing this they might know that they were being pursued by the judgment of God;
16 ¹⁹ and at another time even in the midst of water it burned more intensely than fire,
to destroy the crops of the unrighteous land.