Wisdom 17:5-7

New Catholic Bible

⁵ No fire had sufficient intensity to provide them with light,
    nor was the blazing brilliance of the stars sufficient
    to illumine the somber night.
⁶ The only light their eyes perceived
    came from a terrifying, spontaneous blaze.^[a]
And, when no longer seen, in their fright they regarded the darkness
    as preferable to that sight.
⁷ The illusions of their magic art were held up to ridicule,
    and their vaunted wisdom was laughed to scorn,