Wisdom 12:20-22

Revised Standard Version

²⁰ For if thou didst punish with such great care and indulgence^[a]
the enemies of thy servants^[b] and those deserving of death,
granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness,
²¹ with what strictness thou hast judged thy sons,
to whose fathers thou gavest oaths and covenants full of good promises!
²² So while chastening us thou scourgest our enemies ten thousand times more,
so that we may meditate upon thy goodness when we judge,
and when we are judged we may expect mercy.