Wisdom 12:18-20

Revised Standard Version

¹⁸ Thou who art sovereign in strength dost judge with mildness,
and with great forbearance thou dost govern us;
for thou hast power to act whenever thou dost choose.

¹⁹ Through such works thou has taught thy people
that the righteous man must be kind,
and thou hast filled thy sons with good hope,
because thou givest repentance for sins.
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,