But when Paulhad gathereda bundleof sticksand laidthem on the fire,a vipercameout becauseof the heatand fasteneditself on his hand.
"He sucksthe poisonof cobras;The viper'stongueslayshim.
The oracleconcerning the beastsof the Negev.Through a landof distressand anguish,From where[come] lionessand lion,viperand flyingserpent,They carrytheir richeson the backsof youngdonkeysAnd their treasureson camels'humps,To a peoplewho cannotprofit[them];
Behold,you are of noaccount,And your workamounts to nothing;He who choosesyou is an abomination.
They hatchadders'eggsand weavethe spider'sweb;He who eatsof their eggsdies,And [from] that which is crusheda snakebreaksforth.
As whena manfleesfrom a lionAnd a bearmeetshim, Or goeshome,leanshis handagainstthe wallAnd a snakebiteshim.
"You broodof vipers,howcanyou, beingevil,speakwhat is good?For the mouthspeaksout of that which fillsthe heart.
"You serpents,you broodof vipers,howwill you escapethe sentenceof hell?
But when he sawmanyof the Phariseesand Sadduceescomingfor baptism,he saidto them, "You broodof vipers,whowarnedyou to fleefrom the wrathto come?
they will pickup serpents,and ifthey drinkanydeadly[poison], it will not hurtthem; they will layhandson the sick,and they will recover."
The nativesshowedus extraordinarykindness;for becauseof the rainthat had setin and becauseof the cold,they kindleda fireand receivedus all.
Whenthe nativessawthe creaturehangingfrom his hand,they [began] sayingto one another,"Undoubtedlythismanis a murderer,and though he has been savedfrom the sea,justicehas not allowedhim to live."
Are they servantsof Christ?--I speakas if insane--I more so;in far morelabors,in far moreimprisonments,beatentimes without number,oftenin danger of death.
as unknownyetwell-known,as dyingyetbehold,we live;as punishedyetnot put to death,
