Wisdom 12:8-10

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

⁸ But even these you spared, since they were but mortals,
and sent wasps^[a] as forerunners of your army
to destroy them little by little,
⁹ though you were not unable to give the ungodly into the hands of the righteous in battle,
or to destroy them at one blow by dread wild animals or your stern word.
¹⁰ But judging them little by little you gave them an opportunity to repent,
though you were not unaware that their origin^[b] was evil
and their wickedness inborn,
and that their way of thinking would never change.