Wisdom of Solomon 12:17
King James VersionSource notes
“For when men will not believe that thou art of a full power, thou shewest thy strength, and among them that know it thou makest their boldness manifest.”
Context
14Neither shall king or tyrant be able to set his face against thee for any whom thou hast punished.
15Forsomuch then as thou art righteous thyself, thou orderest all things righteously: thinking it not agreeable with thy power to condemn him that hath not deserved to be punished.
16For thy power is the beginning of righteousness, and because thou art the Lord of all, it maketh thee to be gracious unto all.
17For when men will not believe that thou art of a full power, thou shewest thy strength, and among them that know it thou makest their boldness manifest.
18But thou, mastering thy power, judgest with equity, and orderest us with great favour: for thou mayest use power when thou wilt.
19But by such works hast thou taught thy people that the just man should be merciful, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope that thou givest repentance for sins.
20For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy children, and the condemned to death, with such deliberation, giving them time and place, whereby they might be delivered from their malice: